Before you start revising a story or essay, it's best to wait awhile after writing it. You need some distance from it in order to see it objectively. Put it away for a few weeks before approaching it with a red pen.
When you're ready, start at the beginning.
Focus On Overall Structure
The first thing to look at when revising is the whole story. Are all the parts there? Are they in the right order? Is there any missing information that the reader needs in order to understand what you're telling them? Cut out anything that isn't necessary to the story.
Look at the pacing of the plot. Look for plot holes.
Consider the point of view. If you've written it in third person, would it be stronger in first person?
Look for long descriptive passages. Is all that description necessary, or can you shorten it? Try to intersperse descriptive sections (“telling”) with live action scenes (“showing”).
Replace generic description with specific details. Providing concrete details like smells, colours, place names and character eccentricities allows the reader into the writer's world.
And always, always pay a lot of attention to the beginning and the ending. Editors read the first page first – will it grab them from the first sentence? Make them want to read on.
Look at Language and Word Choice
Go through your story and circle all the verbs. Then go back and look at each one. Could it be replaced with a stronger verb? Verbs give your story movement. If you've used “walked” twenty times, get your thesaurus out.
A warning though: don't go overboard with unusual verbs or verbs that don't fit with the tone of your piece. They will be distracting to the reader.
The same goes for adverbs. Where you can, replace an adverb and a verb with a stronger verb. For example, instead of “running quickly” your character could “race” to the finish.
Look at the dialogue, and make sure each character has a distinct voice.
Try reading the story from end to beginning, one sentence at a time. Tighten each sentence as you go.
Finally, try reading it out loud. You will be able to hear if there are parts that sound clunky or awkward.
Correct Your Spelling and Grammar
Once you're happy with the shape of the story and the writing, do a final check for spelling and grammar mistakes. This step is crucial before sending your writing out.
Look for mistakes such as subject/verb agreement, commonly misused words, and errors in tense.
Check for typos and punctuation errors. If you're unsure of your grammar, consult a reference text or ask for help.
Writing Revision Resources
There are some great books on revising your own writing. One is Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing by Claire Kehrwald Cook [ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1st Ed 1986. ISBN 978-0395393918].
Read over Strunk and White's classic The Elements of Style [Longman Publishers, 4th Ed 2000. ISBN 0-205-31342-6].
After you've finished your revision, take it to your writing group for more feedback. The more time you spend revising and polishing a draft, the more likely an editor will see it's worth.
Learning to revise your own writing takes some practice, but it's an essential skill for writers to develop. Start at the beginning, go from general structure to specific details, and ask for help when you need it.
Sarah Turner - Sarah K. Turner's writing has been published in the Utne Reader and Event magazine, where she was a winner of their 2006 annual Creative ...
Join the Conversation