A Right to Exist

Last week I wrote about revision, about how much I love the process of reworking and rethinking a manuscript I already have down, how I find revising so much more satisfying than “pushing a dirty peanut across the floor with your nose,” Joyce Carol Oates’ description of writing a first draft.

I asked for comments from my readers, your own response to revision, and I received a number of responses. Most, however, were in the form of questions.

The first and biggest question was from Mary Atkinso...