Revision. It’s a real chore for most writers–so many things to attend to in the rewrite stage of a manuscript. Characterization, chronology of events, tying up loose plots, verb tenses, description, setting the scene … When working on the final version of a manuscript, I usually work through it three times, checking for different things, peeling away the “layers” of my writing for closer examination. I might revise purely for narrative voice and verb tense in one read-through and then revise purely for description and setting in another. I find revising in layers to be a more consistent approach to my editing, leaving fewer mistakes behind on the page and giving my work better polish.
Of course, if you have peer editors or a writing group helping you through this process, they can take the edge off your revision work, but it’s no substitute. Every writer worth their salt should know their weaknesses and be reading for those trouble areas in their work. For me, it’s verb tense, conflict and setting. Take advantage of your writing partners by telling them your weak areas and asking them specifically to edit those parts of your work for you.
Do you revise in “layers?” What “layers” do you pick apart when reading through your finished manuscript?
