You Can't Edit a Blank Page

How to Revise Your Writing

Since I’m in full instructor mode now, I wanted to share some hard earned editing advice that applies in both classroom and professional settings.

Salve’s Gothic Library, aka my new lair

Editing is a crucial step of any writing process. It’s where we as authors condense our thoughts and refine our sentences. It’s what I do twice a week when I write these posts. It’s so important that there are entire careers dedicated to it - copyeditors, proofreaders, and editors, to name a few. I’m sharing some of their secrets with you, so that the next time you’re writing, you’ll feel better knowing what comes next.

1. Write your piece.

   I cannot emphasize how crucial this is to revising. You cannot edit something that doesn’t exist. I’m going to let you in on a secret: your first draft will suck. Not because you or your writing is awful, but because all first drafts suck. It is just the nature of first drafts. This isn’t a moral failing, or a moral judgment: it is simply a fact I hope will give you some relief. Take the pressure off of being perfect. Even better, no one ever has to see your first draft!

   

   This isn’t going to help you.

   Being afraid of what you *potentially* could write is worse than not starting at all. I guarantee you will have typos, filler words, and something completely inane in your first draft. That’s ok - you can always improve words on the page. And I bet you’ll find there are a few nuggets of gold in there amongst the chaos.

2. Set it aside.

   This could be for a day. It could be for a few hours. It could be for the length of a very long walk or for months at a time. However long it is, all writing is improved by distance. A good rule of thumb is the longer the piece, the longer the break.¹ You want to try to get some objectivity back - it’s hard to edit something that you keep staring at. Looking at something with fresh eyes, even if it’s only been a few hours, can help give you perspective. I guarantee you’ll re-read your work after a break and be amazed by what works and clearly see what doesn’t.

3. Read it aloud.

   This, more than anything, is my most recommended piece of revision advice. I say it constantly. All the time. Have said it twice already this semester. Read your writing out loud. Words have a rhythm and cadence to them, and your ear will pick up if something sounds off. More than that, you’ll hear if anything sounds awkward or unclear. Engaging one of your other senses will help you in a way that just re-reading your work can’t.

4. Phone a friend.²

   Another crucial step that seems scarier than it actually is. Ask a friend or colleague or fellow writer to read over your piece. They’re not going to be mean and tell you it’s terrible.³ This is about getting a different perspective. I like having friends read my work to see if it even makes sense. Also, you don’t have to just accept critiques without guidance. I use a version of Liz Lerman’s technique in my writing workshops: tell your readers what you want feedback on specifically. You’re allowed to ignore anything that does not suit your needs. But the collective does have intelligence, and you can use it to your advantage.

5. Mark it up.

   

   This is for my fellow analog folks. I was lucky in that I grew up with the technology, as it ‘grew up’, so did I. Meaning: while I can do notes and comments and suggestions and track changes, more than anything, I prefer printing something going to town on it with a pen. There’s something about crossing things out that really makes me feel like I’m making progress. It’s also a clear visual reminder of the work I’ve done.

6. Wash, rinse, repeat.

   I wish it was as simple as saying ‘just do these 5 steps and you’ll end up with a fabulous piece of writing that everyone will love!’ If I could offer such a guarantee, I’d be a millionaire by now. Whether your process involves these steps, or any combination therein, revision usually takes a few rounds. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide when your piece is ‘done.’ You have the control here; knowing when to stop is just as important as getting started. This isn’t to say that an agent or an editor or some other publisher won’t want you to make tweaks, but as your writing’s creator, you are its God. You get to decide, as musician Molly Tuttle sings, when it’s “Good Enough.” Whether it takes you one revision cycle or three, I wish you fair winds and smooth sailing out on there in those fearsome editing seas.

I hope you find these tips helpful! What’s your go to editing tip for your writing? Is there anything you swear by that I missed? Let me know in the comments!

1. Obviously there are caveats here: if you have a paper due tomorrow, setting it aside will not excuse you from the due date.

2. Or text a friend if you’re like me and a Millennial who’s scared of talking on the phone.

3. And if they do, they’re jerks and you shouldn’t bother with them, anyways.