Friday, July 22, 2011

My Top 10 Thoughts on Revision

10.          You have to actually write something to revise.

9.            The first draft is shitty – revise it. 

8.            The second draft is only a little better – revise it.  Unless you are a “one-drafter” (Blasted      Harris article!).    

7.            You can actually revise in your head, but at some point you have to commit it to writing.

6.            You may need to commit yourself, too.

5.            Don’t fall in love with anything in your first draft.  Again, unless you are a “one-drafter.”

4.            It’s never too soon to revise.

3.            Remember your audience – it’s not all about you.

2.            Maybe it is all about you – then you don’t have to revise because only you will read it.

1.            You can revise forever, so sometimes you just have to say “the end.”

1 comment:

  1. Chris, I especially resonate with your number 1. Sometimes we have to pry our fingers off the umpteenth draft and just blog it.

    ReplyDelete