I think most writers are under the impression that the first draft is the hardest part of writing a manuscript. I know I felt that way when I began my dissertation. But in reality, knocking that first draft out seems like the proverbial walk through the park when compared with the act of revision.
Becky Levine tackles this topic in her article "What now? How to Revise from a Critique" in October's Writer's Digest. While it discusses the topic of revision in terms of creative writing, the advise that Levine gives is still spot on.
One thing that Levine comments on and something that I soon realized when I was in the revision stages of my dissertation is that you need to make the easy revisions first. Go ahead and take care of those pesky little things that your writing group or committee members have noted. This really gives you a sense of accomplishment and you can check things off your to-do list.
Something that Levine asserts, however, and which I believe we rarely think about is that "revision is not all about writing and rewriting" (53). WHAT??!! Anyone's first instinct to this statement is likely "what the crap is it then". Levine follows this up with "it's more about thinking" (53). You give that a moment to sink in, and it's like you have that "aha" moment. It's one of those moments when you finally realize that you've failed to see the forest for the trees. Revision = thinking. Once the small things are marked off of your to-do list, it's not time to plunge into the major revisions, but rather time to "think". Think about what your writing group members or committee members have said. Think about whether or not the comments they have made are valid and whether or not they will work for you.
So if you are faced with revision comments that have you breaking out in a cold sweat, take a deep breath, read through them, and then sit back or go to the park and just think!
Becky Levine tackles this topic in her article "What now? How to Revise from a Critique" in October's Writer's Digest. While it discusses the topic of revision in terms of creative writing, the advise that Levine gives is still spot on.
One thing that Levine comments on and something that I soon realized when I was in the revision stages of my dissertation is that you need to make the easy revisions first. Go ahead and take care of those pesky little things that your writing group or committee members have noted. This really gives you a sense of accomplishment and you can check things off your to-do list.
Something that Levine asserts, however, and which I believe we rarely think about is that "revision is not all about writing and rewriting" (53). WHAT??!! Anyone's first instinct to this statement is likely "what the crap is it then". Levine follows this up with "it's more about thinking" (53). You give that a moment to sink in, and it's like you have that "aha" moment. It's one of those moments when you finally realize that you've failed to see the forest for the trees. Revision = thinking. Once the small things are marked off of your to-do list, it's not time to plunge into the major revisions, but rather time to "think". Think about what your writing group members or committee members have said. Think about whether or not the comments they have made are valid and whether or not they will work for you.
So if you are faced with revision comments that have you breaking out in a cold sweat, take a deep breath, read through them, and then sit back or go to the park and just think!
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