As I continue to learn more about writing, today’s topic is Revision, or rather editing your own work.
Now I haven’t a written book, I don’t even write hugely long blog posts. 🙂 So for the most part, to me editing is making my sentences run smoothly and watching my spelling. Occasionally though, I have a longer review, or a sticky post that takes me time to write.. and then the skills talked about in this chapter of Writing Tools comes into play.
What tools?
The ability to be mindful of the words you are using. For instance… Do you have to use that adverb that merely shows emphasis? Is it really necessary in your book/article/blog post?
Do you have a paragraph or chapter that doesn’t truly advance your theme/idea/storyline? If it doesn’t advance it…cut it out. Why have more words for your reader to wade through for no reason? You generally want to make it easy for readers to make their way through your words.
Cut out the needless words and phrases, replace weak quotes with strong ones, and pull out anything that doesn’t truly fit. You aren’t here to please your English teacher, but to satisfy the needs of your readers. Focus on the job at hand, not on what you think aught to be doing. Do you know what I mean? Look to what your readers need instead of thinking primarily of language lessons learned.
Make the cuts yourself. It’s hard because we do so fall in love with our words and characters, but it’s necessary to learn how to edit and revise our own work. To see the potential that awaits when we make our work more succinct.
Make your work the best it can be, cut the unnecessary and make reading what you write the easiest you can make it for your readers. They will appreciate you for it!
Love what you have to say about revision, and that you’re talking about it. So many people seem to forget how important revision and editing is, and just how important it is to talk over. Enjoyable read! Thanks for posting it!
Thanks Nicole! 🙂
Yes, writing for your audience is so important! Usually fewer words are better, which is hard for me because I’m chatty!
Chattiness isn’t bad 🙂 just gives you more experience in cutting back! 😂
I am working on proof-reading my work more. I am a very colorful writer, but unfortunately get wordy. So my goal this year, is to try to stick to the basics unless I feel it’s absolutely necessary. And yes…revise.
it’s hard to remember to go over our words again isn’t it, surprising though, when we do the mistakes we catch. (at least I’m always surprised)
An important skill that we have been working on as my girls write articles for submission. Thanks for good reminders.
How is it going for them?
Great tips on revision! When I taught 2nd grade, I taught my kiddos the basics of some of these ideas during writers workshop!
It’s good to start them early learning how to look at their work again
I tend to kind of just brain dump when I start the writing process, so there are times when the revision step is THE most important and time consuming part of blogging for me. These are great tips! Ty for sharing
I agree that revisions sometimes takes longer than the original writing
These are great reminders! I usually proofread, cut, proofread, give to someone else to read, and then proofread again. It helps me to be able to just free write which is productive for me, and then go back and fix it.
I also much prefer to just write and then go back
great reminders here! sometimes I focus too much on length of pieces, and it takes away from a greater ability for my readers to actually read through
It’s easy to do that isn’t it? We need to edit for our readers.
Such an important part of writing..not my favorite part but certainly important.
is editing our own work ever a favourite task? I always get frustrated with myself for silly errors.
I tend to read my work the correct way even with the mistakes. I guess it’s brain block and I don’t see it often. I find if I read it out loud I catch more mistakes with editing.
that’s why reading it out loud helps, then we hear it, not just sort of read it. 🙂