The Right Word
As writers we know the power of the right word. It is a significant part of writing and revising. Still, many of us feel a resistance toward revising or a sense of failure that must be repaired.
Once again the right word can make all the difference. I was at the Bonn International School in Germany last week to help students with their writing. During a visit to Jen Whitman’s second grade class I learned a new right word. Her students do not revise a manuscript. They revisit a manuscript. What a generous difference and shift in perspective that change of word creates.
When we revisit a place we know what we want to see again, what spots or activities weren’t as engaging as expected, and also what new things we’d like to explore. Perhaps it’s time to stop trying to revise a manuscript, and enjoy revisiting it instead.
George Shannon - Children's Author 
Short and sweet. Motivating post!
I love this, George. Revisiting is much better!
A huge weight has just been lifted! Thank you!
Yep….significant difference.
Rewriting is what I do, usually immediately after first draft, when I’m pressured, trying to meet a deadline, wrinkled brow with sweat drops, panicky keystrokes, frustrated sighs. Wanting to be through and done.
Revisiting is after a while, after a nap, after a day, after a week…and I think about the piece, and wonder how it’s doing, like a close cousin that moved away for a while. It will tell me more about itself when I sit down with a fresh cup of java and chat with it a while. And our conversation will cause it to change it’s mind a little bit, and will cause me to change my ideas too. And we are both kind of ‘reborn’ in that easy moment.
Significant difference. I’ll revisit now, instead of revise.
When I was in acting school, I had a professor who never said “rehearsal” but rather “re-HEAR-sal,” since the purpose is to re-hear the text rather than “fix what’s wrong.” Same concept, same feeling of being set free. What a difference a word makes!
Revisiting DOES make it sound better, ….till I’m in there doing it. Then you can call it a “strawberry cupcake with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles on top” and it’ll still be something I hate. Oh rats, now I’ve gone and made myself hungry…
Beautiful, George – that’s such a better way of thinking about it!
I LOVE that. What a difference a word makes!
Oh, I love that! I’m going to take some manuscripts to revisit when I go on holiday next month. 🙂