Six Things to Think About When You're Revising Your Writing

So far, we've been concentrating on first drafts, getting the words and the ideas out of your head and onto paper. But the time will come when you have distanced yourself enough from your writing to be able to look at it with fresh eyes, and that's when it will be time for revising.

So what do you need to do when you're revising a piece of your own work?

1. Read it out loud so you can hear if it uses rhythm well or whether there are any sentences which need to be rejigged to make them flow better.
2. Make sure that the piece has a good structure, a proper beginning, middle and end.
3. Check that it all makes sense.
4. Look to see if there are any sections that could be strengthened, for example, by using more colourful vocabulary, by adding details, by introducing the senses of smell, taste, and touch.
5. Ask yourself if your characters are compelling and convincing. If not, what could you do to make them stronger?
6. Make sure your spelling, grammar, and punctuation are accurate.