Comments on: Revision and How to Avoid it While Writing the First Draft https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/ A Blog On Writing Sat, 29 Aug 2026 17:38:14 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 By: Ellen Buikema https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179522 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 17:38:14 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179522 In reply to Matthew.

I'm glad that you enjoyed the article, Matthew. You sure are saving a lot of trees! Nothing printed in all that time is amazing.

Thanks for mentioning font changes for notes!

]]> By: Matthew https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179521 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 15:33:35 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179521 Hello Ellen! You are exactly right. I use pen and paper to take notes on every chapter after its drafted. If I need to revise something 5 chapters back, a pencil in a note on that chapter's summary.

Printing to better see little mistakes... I haven't printed anything since 1991! Temporarily change your font and margins then reread. Has the same effect.

Good essay!

]]> By: Ellen Buikema https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179516 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:43:49 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179516 In reply to Lynette M Burrows.

Thank you Lynette!

I find listening to the story helpful. Many of my errors are found that way.

The "I can't write this until I know" happens to me often while writing historical fiction. I hit a bit of a roadblock, do some research, and then can get back to the story.

]]> By: Ellen Buikema https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179515 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:38:27 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179515 In reply to Vivienne.

Hi Vivienne!

Those sideline notes have been super helpful. If the notes are temporarily within the manuscript I have to change the color of the notes, otherwise I tend to loose them.

I'm pleased that the article is helpful!

]]> By: Ellen Buikema https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179514 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:35:13 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179514 In reply to Terry Odell.

Terry, that's wonderful! Critique partners can be golden. I'm glad that you have a method that's working for you all.

]]> By: Ellen Buikema https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179513 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:33:27 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179513 In reply to Sally M. Chetwynd.

Sally, this is true! I've put myself in this very situation and it cost a lot of time.

Thank you for mentioning this.

]]> By: Lynette M Burrows https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179511 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:23:34 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179511 Excellent breakdown of the four types of editing, Ellen. Revision is a process and some people get stuck in the loop of revising before they finish. Some people can write next chapters as if the previous chapters have the new thing in them. Some people, like me, have the kind of writer's brain that will let line editing and some developmental editing go until the draft is finished but my writing brain often gets stuck on "I can't write this until I know better how the lead up to this happened." It works for me. And once I've finished the story, I follow a similar process as the one you've outlined above. And especially agree that reading your work aloud is so incredibly helpful.

]]> By: Vivienne https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179510 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 15:21:25 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179510 This is brilliant, Ellen. I'm terrible for 'editing' while writing. It's a good idea to make notes if you are suddenly struck with an idea.I'm bookmarkingbthis for future reference. Many thanks.

]]> By: Terry Odell https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179508 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:50:41 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179508 I print and read each chapter as I finish it. I read at night, in bed, so it's more like reading than editing, but I make minor markups. The thought of waiting until I have the entire manuscript finished before looking at it makes me cringe. I've been doing this for over 30 novels, so the system works for me. I also have 2 critique partners who read individual chapters (after I've done my quick tweaks), and we've been working this way for about 20 years, so it's working for us.

]]> By: Sally M. Chetwynd https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/08/revision-and-how-to-avoid-it-while-writing-the-first-draft/#comment-179507 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:15:56 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=57408#comment-179507 Obsessive revision before the story arc has been completed usually results in the author discovering that a "new" feature that crops up later in the story means that earlier, over-revised chapters need to be entirely rewritten, or discarded and replaced with material that supports the "new" feature.

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