In Praise of Revision

In Praise of Revision

“Getting the first draft finished is like pushing a very dirty peanut across the floor with your nose.” —Joyce Carol Oates

I’m not sure I would have said it quite that way, but I agree entirely that first drafts are hard work. Nothing like the fun of revision.

The fun of revision? Yes! And yes, yes, yes! I love revising. Don’t you?

When I sit down to write a first draft, I have nothing before me but a blank screen or, it used to be, a blank sheet of paper . . . and sometime...