Tips for Writers to Stay on Track During Revision

Revision is hard. 

We pull, delete, tweak, rewrite, switch order, switch tense, revisit motivations and point of view. There are endless big changes to be made and then we dig into word choice, active vs. passive voice, and punching up dialogue and description. 

And the process can feel endless. 

I know. I’m in it now. As much as I wanted my critique partner to tell me, “Yay! This latest version is ready for publication tomorrow and great enough to be a Reese’s pick” I didn’t realistically expect that. And yet, her feedback yesterday still felt like a gut punch. Not because it was harsh or unearned, but simply because I have some more work ahead of me. And honestly? It brought up a lot of questions about whether I can even dip back into this story. Again. I know I’ve made it better every time I’ve touched it, but sometimes, it can feel like the finish line is constantly moving.

Ever feel that way or is it just me?

The most frustrating part for me is that I know this book is the book. The one I need to make great. The one that, as much as it intimidates me, I want to get right. And getting it right means going back in for another revision pass.

Revising is a marathon, not a sprint. So how do we as writers stay on track? I’m asking for a friend…

Luckily, I wrote about this very topic over at DIY MFA just last week (click for 5 Tips for Staying Accountable During Revision).

Check it out and let me know in the comments what works for you–how do you stay on track during what can feel like endless passes of revision?