Writing is stressful to some and exciting to others, but what many people forget is the crucial stage of revising "finished" copy. All newstories, articles, and papers can be improved greatly after a first draft, regardless of grammatical correctness or excellent organization.
Critically Compare the Copy with Original Goals and Intentions
The first step in the revision process is to evaluate the first draft's information, themes, and overall writing and compare it to your original goals and ideals. Does the draft match your original intention, fall short of your original intention, or surpass your original intention?
Has the piece spun off in a different direction than originally intended? If so, will this be okay with an editor? Reassess the piece and omit areas that do not match your original or reevaluated goals.
Adjust the Shape and Presentation for Highest Impact and Readability
The second step in the revision process is to make necessary changes to the outline, overall shape, and presentation of the article. Changes should be made to ensure accuracy and clarity in the copy and boost drama and overall impact of the story.
Would the story work best if the ideas are presented straightforward, through an example, or told through the eyes of somebody else? Should the setup be traditional or creative? Now is the time to play with the piece and perfect presentation.
Rewrite Words and Phrases to Sharpen Focus and Smooth Syntax
The third step in the revision process is to zoom into the actual phrasing and word choice of your piece. Adjusting the phrasing and sentence structure from line to line, paragraph to paragraph will ease transitions and overall readability of your work. Now is the time to find the best words possible to evoke a desired response from readers.
Fix Typos, Correct Word Omissions, and Cut Unnecessary Words
The fourth step in the revision process is to zoom into the draft even further by correcting careless errors, grammatical mistakes, and spelling errors. Check carefully for word or letter omissions, repeated words or phrases, and general typing mistakes.
Take extra care to be ensure words are not only spelled correctly, used correctly (Their going to win instead of They're going to win). Finally, omit unnecessary words, phrases, or even paragraphs. Clean up the piece by ensuring each word, phrase, and paragraph has a purpose and adds to the piece.
Fine Tune the Piece and Double Check Facts and Name Spellings
The fifth step in the revision process is to zoom back out of the piece by reading and rereading it as a whole, coherent work of writing. Does the piece have the overall impact and themes you desired? Does it flow naturally? Can it be made any better through reorganization or rewriting? If so, rework other stages of editing until the writing is the best it can be.
Finally, double check all facts, quotes, and name spellings. Allow the writing to rest for a few minutes, days, or weeks depending on deadline limitations, and do a final read through before submitting to an editor.
Remember that the revision process does not solely consist of correcting technical errors, but it also consists of rewriting, reworking, and rereading to ensure the piece submitted is accurate, well-written, organized, and impacting.
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