Revision: Time to Make Your Writing Better ~Suzy Leopold

The American Heritage dic . tion. ary defines revision [ri-vizh-uh n] as:

1. The act or work of revising. 
2. To prepare a newly edited version of a text.

3. To reconsider and change or modify.

4. A revised or new version, as of a book or other written material. 

Simply stated, the word revision means to see again. 

You’ve written your story and are excited to share it with a critique partner, or better yet send it off for submission to an agent or publisher. You feel your story is wonderful and unique and word perfect. Completing your story is a great feeling. You have worked hard and it is a time to celebrate. 

Stop. 

Your manuscript is not ready yet. There is no manuscript or work that is perfectly written and polished the very first time. A manuscript is not ready for submission until revisions are made. 

As a writer, revision is a critical part of the writing process. Many writers seem to dread this step and sometimes skip it. Revision is like practicing the piano or participating in baseball practice. It is a necessary step that must not be over looked. It is a part of the writing process that begins with a draft, followed by many revisions, to a manuscript that is polished and ready for submission.

Time to see a new vision for your manuscript. Time to see your story in a new light. Time to make the necessary changes for improvement. Time to reimagine what you story can be.

Revision is not the same as editing. Good writers separate composing from transcription.

Revision	Editing
Redo/resequence/rewrite	Grammar
Prune/cut a section	Paragraphing
Focus on a particular part	Capital Letters
Adjust and change	Spelling
Add a section	Punctuation

1. Distance yourself 

The completion of your manuscript is hard work. You wrote and wrote and typed and typed, expressing your ideas and thoughts that became a story. 

Excellent! Reward yourself. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies & Milk

Now step back after reading your manuscript aloud one last time before setting your story aside for the time being. Let your manuscript rest. Let it simmer. Fresh eyes will allow you to see the manuscript more objectively.

You may feel the need to revise right away. Do not do so. Do not revise yet. Walk away from your story. Better yet, go for a walk.

Take a few days away from the manuscript and allow the story to mull around in your brain for awhile. As thoughts cross your mind, jot down the ideas that you may want to consider for revision.

2. Look at your manuscript with a critical eye by reading aloud

After distancing yourself from your manuscript, it is time to look back at your manuscript with fresh eyes. This can be difficult. Pretend that you are reading someone else’s work. Read your story as if you are critiquing a manuscript for a writerly friend. 

• Concentrate on different areas of revision.
  

For the first read-through look closely at the content of the story.

Does it sound right?

• Rearrange sentences so they are logical and effective.

Do you have a mental image of what is being described?

Are the sentences well developed and well elaborated?

Did you include sensory details? 

Think about what it looks like? What does it sound like? 
What does it feel like? What does it taste like? What does it smell like? 

• Think about your character.

Has your main character developed and solved his/her problem?

• Think about the pacing.

The story should be natural and not choppy.

Is your writing fresh and original?

Does the story flow with a story arc?

Do you need every scene?

Does the beginning hook the reader and set the stage?

• The ending should be satisfying and unpredictable.

3. Time for a second read aloud

• Read one sentence at a time.
• Read your own work backwards. 

Does each sentence make sense?

• Consider the word count and delete any unnecessary words. 
• Circle all of the verbs. 

Are the verbs strong?

Choose strong verbs

• Use clearer, stronger details.
• Cut anything that is not making your story shine.

Remove unnecessary information or extra details. 

Weed through unnecessary words:

and, but, just, now, really, so, that, then, very, well.

• Are you showing and not telling?

4. Time for a third read aloud 

Yes, a third read-aloud. If you are tired of reading your story aloud, how do you think the audience may feel? Children’s books are meant to be read aloud. A picture book needs to have re-readability.

• Look carefully at the dialogue. 
• Listen to the rhythm.  
• Highlight all of the dialogue.

Does the dialogue between the characters move the story forward?

Is the character coming to life in the story?

The dialogue should not exceed thirty percent of the word count.

Think about dialogue

As you work to make your writing better, keep in mind that revisions should be exciting. The many revisions can turn ordinary writing into extraordinary writing. True authors go through many revisions before actually publishing.

Go. 

Time to change your manuscript. Your manuscript needs revisions so it can be the best it can be. Revising is reimagining. Time to revise your manuscript.

Asiatic Lilies from my Prarie Garden