Re-Vision

Why are revisions so difficult? Because a real revision (not tweaking here and there) requires seeing in a whole new way. RE—VISION.

 

By the time a story is submitted, it’s been revised and tweaked many times. So when it returns with an R & R (revise and resubmit) request, what writers consider as good a non-acceptance as there can be, it’s because it’s not the other R, the final one. (Rejection)

Revision! Yippy! But now I have to look at the story in a new way.

Maybe what I thought the story was about turns out not to be. Maybe a character that meant so much to me doesn’t serve the story well. Maybe a sub-plot is more of a main plot, or the plot isn’t a plot at all.

But…they liked it enough to want to see it again. Now, if I could only figure out why or what they liked… because a house once carefully constructed now feels wobbly, and the removal of a few of its support beams threatens to make the whole come tumbling down…

This is where Re-Vision is crucial.  To let go of the house I built and carefully decorated, I try to imagine the inner-walls in different places. Try to imagine a different entrance. Imagine re-doing the upper floor.

Well, that about describes the process from the outside. From the inside—there are no words, except—

It’s hard.

 

I just got through it, again. The house is still standing. Have faith, you can do it.