Revising and Editing — Where the Magic Happens
By: Brenda Mahler
Tags: Revision, Editing, Productivity, Writing, Writing Tips

Revising and Editing — Where the Magic Happens

Producing a masterpiece with a sleight of hand

Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash

Genuine writers understand that writing grows through a process and with an established procedure, writing becomes tolerable, for many rewarding and when all the steps flow synchronously, exhilarating.

The process varies as a writer matures, but accomplished writers agree that a process exists. The writing process includes five phases: prewriting, writing, revision, editing, and publishing. The first two typically concentrate on creativity and include the recording of thoughts and ideas. Revisions and editing focus on improvements and corrections. Publishing places the polished product in front of the world.

The first draft: one of many

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something–anything-down on paper. A friend of mine says that the first draft is the down draft–you just need to get it down. The second draft is the updraft–you fix it up. You try to say what you have to say more accurately. And the third draft is the dental draft where you check every tooth, to see if it’s loose or cramped or decayed, or even, God help us, healthy.” — Anne Lamott in Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on the Writing Life

Once the first draft is complete, writers look at their work and arrive at one of three conclusions: “There, I’ve said it.” “This sucks.” or “Now, it’s time to get to work.”

There, I’ve said it

When a document stops at this stage, the focus is to convey the content to an identified audience. There are some types of writing that end with the draft. For example, when writing is personal or therapeutic, it needs no further action. Or a brief email to a coworker may deliver a message without requiring much development or refinement beyond proofreading.

This Sucks

Sometimes an idea doesn’t work. Instead of proceeding on a topic that holds no future, a writer will file it away for later when inspiration strikes. I call this incubation. Sometimes a subject requires time to brew, sprout, and mature before the ideas can solidify. Writers should be wary though to not critique their writing harshly early in the process because a draft can frequently be massaged into a quality piece when the time is right. Do not throw in the pen too quickly.

Now, it’s time to get to work

However, writers who produce for an audience dedicate attention and energy to revising and editing, refining the content to ensure the finishing touches focus on style, voice, grammar, and punctuation.

Here, the arduous work begins. Revision and editing compel an author to examine the words with a discerning eye and implement changes. To recognize the differences between the two, think of revision as substantial changes and editing as minor, sometimes obscure, changes but acknowledge both significantly impact meaning.

Revision: creating the sloppy copy

Revision is not copying (or typing) the draft, so it looks clean. In fact, when revising the manuscript becomes messy.

Revision is not checking for usage and mechanics. Be careful to not confuse revision with editing. Revising involves making changes; whereas, editing involves making corrections. After writing the draft, it is too soon to perform corrections because during revision sizeable portions of text change. Don’t waste time or energy editing material that may be discarded or rewritten.

“More than a half, maybe as much as two-thirds of my life as a writer is rewriting. I wouldn’t say I have a talent that’s special. It strikes me that I have an unusual kind of stamina.” — John Irving

(For readers who continue consuming this article, notice the links to other articles that expand on the skills described. As this article focuses on the importance of revision and editing and the need to address them separately, the links direct you to other articles that provide strategies.)

Begin by reading the words on the page while reminding yourself that writing is a process; this reminder creates an acceptance to change. Revision incorporates the effective concepts of written communication with the goal to develop content, organize structure, create a clear and consistent voice, present vivid word choice, and build fluency.

The list of tasks at this stage require time. No growth occurs without isolated practice of strategies to strengthen the writing. The early drafts show you know how to write; revising proves you know how to write effectively.

Revision requires the author to identify the audience and purpose to critically assess the appropriateness of the voice and style. For instance, the voice of an article about photosynthesis presented to botanists differs from a piece explaining the process to elementary children.

The focus during revision falls on all aspects of the written word and when executed successfully, a writer sees positive evidence of revision.

Increased details and less unanswered questions. (Ask who, what, where, why and when questions to prompt details.)

Powerful vocabulary (Eliminate weak words with the help of a thesaurus.)

Consistent voice throughout the narrative

Vivid descriptions that shows instead of tells (Use each of the five senses to create imagery.)

Dynamic characters who are realistic and relatable

Embed figurative language (Similes, metaphors, alliteration, allusions, etc.)

Limited clichés (Avoid overused expressions and construct an original approach to express old ideas.)

Engaging leads (Capture the reader’s attention with the introduction.)

Fluency (Articulate ideas easily and accurately.)

Variety (Examine word choice and sentence beginnings.)

Well-developed paragraphs (Return to essentials by offering a topic sentence with support.)

Organization (Apply transitions.)

“By the time I am nearing the end of a story, the first part will have been reread and altered and corrected at least one hundred and fifty times. I am suspicious of both facility and speed. Good writing is essentially rewriting. I am positive of this.” — Roald Dahl

Editing: preparing the final draft

Most people, through public education, studied language usage and mechanics. However, this generally occurs in isolation from writing. Successful editors transfer skills practiced on worksheets and activities from direct instruction to application. This requires a discerning eye to details. As mentioned, editing involves making corrections.

A writer instinctively edits during all stages of the writing process, but precise attention to details becomes imperative at the end of the process. Allow yourself to say, “I will take care of that at the editing stage.” By ignoring errors when drafting, writers avoid the blocks that stall creative thought.

Once the draft is contextually organized and coherent, editing ensures the writing communicates fluently. Right and wrong answers exist at this stage; know that only the right claims are tolerable.

Check the details with the precision of a scientist peering through a microscope assessing accuracy.

Spelling

Word usage (Particularly inspect homonyms because they may be spelled correctly, but the wrong word is chosen.)

Sentence structure (Eliminate run-on sentences and fragments.)

Punctuation (Pay special attention to commas and apostrophes. They are a writer’s quicksand.)

Possessive nouns

Contractions

Quotation marks

Verb tense agreement

Capitalization

“I have rewritten — often several times — every word I have ever published. My pencils outlast their erasers.” — Vladimir Nabokov

Slow and steady wins the race. When writers allow this motto to direct their efforts, when they practice and apply the identified skills of successful authors, the reward will be engaged readers.