Process of revision
Revision is a process I dislike in so many ways and yet it is a helpful tool in day-to-day written tasks. Literally, no piece of writing can be done well without some sort of revision. The rearrangement of words, comas and accents is an infinite process that will gradually shape phrases into sentences and sentences into decent or even good text. However, there are two very dangerous moment that everyone who is not Hemmingway or Fitzgerald stumble upon
First is the danger of reshaping the text to the point of loss of the initial thought and context. It happens discretely, so that you may not even notice it at first. You start to change the order of words or switch paragraphs, because you think it sounds prettier and then when you read the whole piece you realize that you have embellished it so much it has nothing to do with the initial theme. Therefore, it is important to stay consistent while revising a paper.
Second dangerous moment is when you are told to change something minor in the context. This is the moment when you look at the sentences and realize there is nothing new you can write about it. There is literally no new thought in your head regarding that matter. This is when you start to synonymize words, hoping that it will eventually change the meaning. Which it never does. Therefore, it might be helpful to take a break and then return to the paper with a fresh mind.
This above is of course the description of my personal experience. However, despite the obvious downsides of revision, including dislike of criticism, which revision obviously indicates, it is a vital process for anyone who writes. It opens mind and makes you come up with alternatives, which is a creative act that helps improve the quality and the speed of writing. Over the course, I have revised several papers, not only upon teacher’s requests but also because when you read what you wrote the night before it somehow always looks bad and cliché. Therefore, I sat with many of my papers and revised them to the point of liking them. Eventually it increases your confidence as a writer, which I believe is a worthy prize for a dreaded process of revision.
