How to Revise
Look, I know all aspiring writers don't want to hear this but here it goes: for the love of all things beautiful and good please revise!
Want the secret ticket to writing well? Here's how: revise.
Here's how to revise:
1.Allow enough time for several iterations. Make a writing plan.
2. Break apart the revising the proofreading. This means worry about things like comma use apart from worrying about your content and what it is you're trying to say. Start off with either approach by asking yourself: what is it I'm trying to say and am I successful in saying it? And have I presented the information in such a way (punctuations, spelling, formatting) that makes it accessible?
3. Keep an eye out for repetition and revise for improved word choice if you find a word that keeps popping up.
4. Read the last line of a paragraph and the first line of the next paragraph. Ask yourself: does the information flow from one paragraph to the next?
5. Read your document out loud.
6. Have a really nice friend or family member (or even a mean friend or family member; they need only to be willing) read through and ask questions. It's super helpful if you ask that they just ask you questions and not necessarily mark your paper. This way, you get a reader's response that will really help your revision approach by forcing you to think critically about your existing text.
7. Set a number of iterations. Tell yourself that the seventh draft will be your final draft and keep revising until you hit number 7. (But keep in mind that some documents will require much more, some much less. Just get in the practice of rejecting the notion of first draft as final draft.)
With time, the idea of revision should be super liberating. It means that not every word needs to be perfect as thoughts go from your mind to paper.
Let's part with this last bit: the number one way to revise is to get the first draft out of the way. In other words: write! Write!
Want the secret ticket to writing well? Here's how: revise.
Here's how to revise:
1.Allow enough time for several iterations. Make a writing plan.
2. Break apart the revising the proofreading. This means worry about things like comma use apart from worrying about your content and what it is you're trying to say. Start off with either approach by asking yourself: what is it I'm trying to say and am I successful in saying it? And have I presented the information in such a way (punctuations, spelling, formatting) that makes it accessible?
3. Keep an eye out for repetition and revise for improved word choice if you find a word that keeps popping up.
4. Read the last line of a paragraph and the first line of the next paragraph. Ask yourself: does the information flow from one paragraph to the next?
5. Read your document out loud.
6. Have a really nice friend or family member (or even a mean friend or family member; they need only to be willing) read through and ask questions. It's super helpful if you ask that they just ask you questions and not necessarily mark your paper. This way, you get a reader's response that will really help your revision approach by forcing you to think critically about your existing text.
7. Set a number of iterations. Tell yourself that the seventh draft will be your final draft and keep revising until you hit number 7. (But keep in mind that some documents will require much more, some much less. Just get in the practice of rejecting the notion of first draft as final draft.)
With time, the idea of revision should be super liberating. It means that not every word needs to be perfect as thoughts go from your mind to paper.
Let's part with this last bit: the number one way to revise is to get the first draft out of the way. In other words: write! Write!
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