Revise by Design

Writers are always challenged to revise their work, but it is not always clear how to go about the revision process. The natural inclination is to just tear into your work without much forethought. However, it's best to organize your revision by developing a plan. There are several things you can ask yourself to help guide your revision process. First, it is important to consider the main purpose of your writing and ask yourself if you can accomplish that purpose in a better way. You may have written a technically good piece, but if it doesn't reflect the main purpose, it lacks the proper focus and therefore doesn't accomplish your goal. Next, ask yourself if your writing follows whatever guidelines or traditional structure it's supposed to adhere to. If not, those guidelines can be your skeleton structure for the revision process. Anything that doesn't fit within that structure has to go. Next, ask yourself what primary message you want to convey to readers and whether or not you have conveyed that message. Is your message presented in the most effective way and is it crystal clear to readers? Finally, ask yourself if you understand whatever feedback you may have about the piece from an editor, instructor or writing peer. If you don't understand their critique of your work, ask them for clarification. Find out specifically what needs to be changed and then consider how you can make that change. Planning in this manner before revising your work leads to better final drafts and makes the revision process more positive and productive for you.