Revising your writing again? Blame the Modernists - Ideas - The Boston Globe

[davidfcooper]

I disagree with the article's contention that extensive revision is a modern innovation. William Wordsworth published his first version of The Prelude in 1805 and spent the next 45 years revising it.

Comments

[pandemo]

I read the article and thought at once of one of my favorite writers, Isaac Asimov, then go to see someone's comment on him. We all should be that bright!

I do AT LEAST 7 rewrites before the editor gets it. I once submitted a slightly over 3,000 word story that was going to see print. I got back, great - Do it in 1500. I honestly didn't think it was possible. I read it over, and decided I WAS KEEPING EVERY IDEA. (yeah, I tend to have a stubborn streak, which I've tried most of my life to outgrow. Stick-to-it-ness, YES. But just plain stubbornness, no.

It took me 12 drafts, and I hit the word count TO THE WORD. It reads great, and I learned so much doing it. Read it here

(It is a true horse story.)