Revisions Make You a Better Writer
- By: Jessica Faust | Date: Oct 09 2019
Authors who embrace revisions don’t just create a better book, they become better writers. The best authors take the lesson from each revision and file it away when they write the next book.
That’s not to say there won’t be revisions on the next book, it’s just that when the agent or editor pushes them to be stronger they are already starting from a stronger space.
Revisions should always be thought of as more than just the book you’re working on. They are a way to grow as a writer and grow your career to the next step.
If revisions center around creating a more well-rounded character, the successful writer takes everything they learned into the next book and creates more well-rounded character. That way, when the agent gives revisions the characters created become all that much more well-rounded.
It’s how successful writers evolve and grow and, mostly, build long-lasting careers.
The magic is in revisions.
I so agree.
When people ask me how long it took to write a book, I say: It took me ninety days, more or less; however, it took me three years to revise, rewrite, edit and proof.
I like to create from a ‘right-brained’ source of inspiration (putting words on a page with less attention to grammar, POV, show-don’t-tell, etc.); then, I put on the kettle and begin revising from a ‘left-brained’ source of motivation (although I don’t need much motivation; I really enjoy this process).
Although I have no problem cutting (characters, paragraphs, chapters), knowing when to quit rewriting, revising, editing and proofing is a challenge for me.
“The magic is in revisions” – love it, although I imagine the revisions are only there if you know what will make it better. That’s my fear, that the changes I am making aren’t improving my ms.