Self-editing, rewriting, revising. All tend to elicit emotionally charged and opinionated conversations. I know some writers who flat out hate it. Others tend to be indifferent, still others don’t seem to mind it at all. While some feel that you should never edit your own work. (personally, I find this to be nonsense!)
Practicing at least some form of self-editing is a must for every author.
The difference between them is nuanced and unimportant. You are essentially making changes. Ignore that little button tempting you to “rewrite with AI” because YOU don’t need that garbage. Focus instead on why we rewrite in the first place.
To make it better.
According to the late William Zinsser, (whom I am fond of quoting because his sense of humor, ability to not take himself too seriously, and his unconventional advice, are unmatched.)
“We all have emotional equity in our first draft; we can’t believe that it wasn’t born perfect. But the odds are close to 100% that is wasn’t.”
Perhaps you feel too emotionally attached to your writing or are too depleted to even consider editing your own work.
If self-editing intimidates you, causes stress or anxiety, be encouraged. YOU are capable of correcting it.
Zinsser goes on to say,
“The secret to good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components.”
He further states:
“Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you think writing is hard, it’s because it is hard.”
Alas, writing IS hard, and perhaps rewriting is harder. But now out of reach.
Take the topic of clutter. Zinsser’s chapter on the subject is nothing short of comical, if not the perfect reminder of clutter’s invasion into our writing.
“Fighting clutter is like fighting weeds – the writer is always slightly behind. New varieties sprout overnight, and by noon they are part of the American speech.”
What is a writer to do?
A few things that have worked for me:
Check for cadence.
Read it aloud. (Obvious? Yes, but sometimes we forget!)
Do not expect perfection with your first draft.
Leave it alone. Then return to it.
As for fearing you may not catch every blemish, worry not, it’s not the blemishes that require your utmost attention. Leave that to the editor you were planning on hiring.
Remember your intentions, your vision, your message to the reader. Don’t deny yourself the opportunity to fine tune and present your best work on your terms, as both your duty and responsibility.
One response to “Self-Editing, Rewriting, Revising. Is there a difference?”
[…] Yes, I said drastically. And if you aren’t drastically self-editing, you may want to reexamine your techniques. […]