Difference between Writing and Rewriting

Writing and Rewriting are two of the most important activities you will do as a writer. But still, there’s often a lot of confusion between the two of them. Many think that writing and rewriting are interchangeable or that rewriting is for weak writers.

Unless you are one of the most talented writers out there, which is numerically quite improbable, you will have to write less and rewrite more. It’s inevitable because the majority of what we write the first time is garbage. Only when we rewrite the same stuff, things start to shine.

So, how should you approach a piece of writing?

Write like there’s no tomorrow

Trust me when I say this. Write as much as you can without worrying about the overall quality. Some writers even go into this stage without outlining though I tend to recommend outlining on a high level. But the point is to write as fast as you can. Basically, let it rip! Don’t try to write a literary masterpiece when you’re starting off with the first draft. Because, that will come much later and only if you’re really interested in writing a literary masterpiece.

This approach really helps you to overcome scary things like writer’s block. It helps you build perspective. And above all else, it lets you get your story from your brain onto the paper or a word-processor. Because, let’s face it. Brain can be a slippery storage medium and chances are high that the normal humdrum of life can lead to loss of ideas and thoughts. Getting stuff on the paper in the least amount of time can do wonders to your storytelling and build a strong baseline.

After you’ve finished writing, take a break. Don’t even look at your manuscript for a few days. Do something else. Maybe, plot another story or read some good books. Try to keep away from the draft.

Rewrite with careful thought

Now comes the tough part or the interesting part depending on how you look at it. Preferably, before starting this stage go through your first draft (of course, after the break!). Note down the good and the ugly parts of your manuscript. Make a list of things that work and those that don’t. Also, match what you’ve written with what you outlined. This will help you find out if your initial plans survived first contact with execution.

Post this starts the long but ultimately satisfying process of polishing your first draft into something truly remarkable. You would see the difference. I would advice to read with an open mind and don’t worry if your mind starts to wonder whether something doesn’t work well. That’s the whole point of this exercise. If you don’t end up changing a lot of stuff, I can bet that you didn’t read with an that much of an open mind.

Don’t worry if you see whole characters and sub-plots appearing pointless or weak. When I was rewriting Starship Samudram, I saw two-characters who just appeared in one scene but I had wasted paragraphs describing them. Time to get out the scissors and prune the weeds if you see such a thing. You’d also end up either cutting stuff or adding stuff depending on how detailed you were in the first draft and also the type of story. In my case, I found myself adding a lot of world-building only in the rewriting phase when I knew the story and the characters interactions better. The point is that it works either way and you’ll have a stronger story after rewriting.

I enjoy rewriting more because it helps me analyze my story, draw new conclusions, and embellish the sentences to make them shine. But, what do you think about it? Write and Rewrite your comments in the comments section below.

The post Difference between Writing and Rewriting appeared first on Saurabh Dashora.