(Re)vision: See it Again

It's no secret that revision is the key to great writing. We may fervently wish we could get everything out and perfectly stated in a single round of writing, but such a wish is not at all realistic. The truth is that writing is hard, and frustrating at times.

But, what if we reframe the way we think about writing to include revision as a necessary part of the process? Really, absolutely no one gets it down perfectly the first time. We all, according to Anne Lamott, write, and should write, need to write "Shitty first drafts."

One way to think about revision is to begin by thinking about the term itself. Revision. Re-vision. To see again. Revision is a process that allows us a second sight. We can do this either by putting aside a draft and giving it time to rest, and then come back to it with fresh eyes. Or we can ask someone else to read a draft and see it through their (fresh) eyes. Perhaps ideally, we do both so there are multiple opportunities for a new look at our writing.

The key to using revision as a tool for moving forward is intention. When you turn your writing over, be specific with your reader. Tell them what you like so far or what you think is working well. Tell them where you've been struggling or what kind of challenges you've had. And tell them what kind of advice would be useful. When readers have information, they are more likely to do an informed reading. So be prepared to prepare your reader and don't hesitate to maintain ownership over your work.

Likewise, when you receive feedback, read it with intention. Keep in mind that it's one reader's perspective, which can never be fully objective (readers carry baggage too). Consider having multiple readers and then triangulate the feedback (i.e., look for places of overlap).

And lastly, keep in mind that the feedback is on the writing and not the writer. All writing can use revision (even this blog post!). It's not a moral failing if we, as writers, don't get it right or fail to connect with readers. Be prepared for when you receive feedback to do some reflective writing on your own. The following reflective prompts can help you understand and digest feedback:

• What I heard from my reader is...

• Given what I heard, the most important task for revision is...

• I agree/disagree with my reader about...