I love working with writers who understand the art of revision. So many possibilities open up once you give yourself space to play, experiment, and embrace curiosity. Revision is challenging—yes, 100 percent!—but I think there can be so much fun and beauty in returning to something you’ve created from scratch. You already did the hard work of showing up and choosing to put words on a blank page. So what does it mean to rediscover (reconnect, reimagine, reenvision) the world in front of you?
It might feel daunting and, honestly, a little embarrassing to reread a first or second draft of something you’re working on, but coming back to your work with a level of curiosity—while giving yourself grace—is something I try to encourage. You are not the same person you were when you approached the blank page, and you’re only going to continue to evolve as a person and understand your story better in subsequent drafts. Maybe the third-person omniscient isn’t working the way you want. Experiment with a first-person POV. Maybe the thrust for the narrative engine doesn’t feel urgent enough. Throw what’s at stake for your character onto page one. If you find yourself struggling to revisit your work, take some time. Then, see how you feel when you return to the page with less dread, more enthusiasm.
Revision is supposed to be and feel challenging. And I challenge you to do it anyway.
—Kukuwa Fraser, senior editor, Flatiron Books