From persistence to excellence: the creative reinvention of writing

[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93s1YX16XNGpiOcjdgfYMHIXoRGQKV13SB6HhPgoMdShmyC9GmTvolFcfrJCes5 YrhKmNeVG1v4p-RuA-fhkEP3Ky8Cm-mYDe3qstLAk9Kty4DeSevR6nu3Izi0ruaHo3gVxNx-pjIbwXWuqQAJwWUmReDdGXGSEUvUWTXeXPvaDyBLjf_0ENfBVuFbxx/s 1792/DALL%C2%B7E%202024-03-26%2008.15.11%20-%20A%20fresh%20and%20adorable%20Taiwanese%20young%20woman%20with%20long,%20flowing%2 0hair%20is%20enjoying%20a%20summer%20day%20while%20writing%20at%20her%20desk.%20Her%20outfit%20is%20simple%20yet%20chic,%20.webp)

On the journey of writing, we often encounter a common but extremely challenging problem: being reluctant to modify our own manuscripts. For many beginners, every word and sentence is like an extension of their own emotions, and every paragraph of text carries the author’s thoughts and soul. However, it is this excessive obsession with self-creation that often becomes the biggest obstacle to the progress of writing.

In today’s article, I will share with you: Why do you sometimes have to be harsh on yourself in the process of self-improvement in writing? The reason is simple, because bold abandonment and revision are the only way to make progress in writing. Next, I will also provide some specific methods and strategies for your reference!

Why make bold changes?

We all know that writing is a process of continuous accumulation and improvement: just like a sculptor needs to constantly carve stones to create a perfect work, writing also requires constant revision and rewriting in order to refine words and convey deeper meaning. Every revision is a deepening and improvement of the work.

1. Distance creates beauty: When we devote ourselves to creation, we often fall into our own thinking framework and cannot objectively evaluate our works. After putting down the work for a period of time and then coming back to review it, we can often discover problems that we have not noticed before. This sense of distance can help us evaluate and improve the work more objectively.
2. The perspectives of readers and authors are different: The purpose of our writing is often to communicate ideas and share stories with readers. However, the reader’s background, knowledge, and feelings may differ significantly from those of the author. Through continuous revision and rewriting, we can narrow this gap more accurately so that the work can reach a wider audience.

How to make effective modifications?

1. Set up a cooling-off period: Once you’ve finished your first draft, don’t rush into revisions. You might as well set up a cooling-off period for yourself, which may be a few days or weeks, to remove yourself from the emotions of creation and examine the work from a more objective perspective.

2. Start from the overall situation: When revising, start with the overall structure and theme to confirm whether every part is closely connected? Can you clearly communicate what you want to say?

3. Detail polishing: After the structural adjustment is completed, the details can be modified and polished. This includes paragraph arrangement, word choice, sentence fluency, spelling and grammatical correctness, etc.

4. Seek external feedback: Sometimes, we need an outside perspective to help us identify problems. At this time, if you can seek feedback from a trusted friend, colleague, or writing coach, their perspectives can help you see your work from a different perspective and discover problems that we may have overlooked. Of course, it takes courage to accept criticism and advice, but that’s part of growing up.

5. Use software tools: Today there are many writing and editing software that can help us improve our manuscripts. There’s everything from basic spell checking to more advanced tools for language expression and style guidance. With the help of these tools, we can effectively help us review and improve our works.

6. Learn to let go: Ultimately, what we need to learn is to let go. Not every piece of text will be perfect, and not every revision will be as we wish. Learning to accept the imperfection of your work is the most challenging and important lesson in writing.

7. Conclusion

Boldly revising your own work is indeed an important step in the process of learning to write. This process is not only about deleting words, but also about deepening self-understanding and respecting the art of writing. Every revision is responsible for the work and for one’s own growth. Although this process may be difficult and requires us to be tough on ourselves, it is this kind of training that allows us to break through ourselves and reach new heights.

Truly powerful writers rarely write in one go, but rather carefully consider each word. Whether it is a classic literary work or a modern bestseller, there are often countless revisions and rewrites behind it. For example, Hemingway once mentioned that he rewrote the ending of the short story “The Old Man and the Sea” seventy times to complete it. Such persistence and unremitting efforts finally made his work a literary classic and influenced countless readers. 2.

3. Hemingway once said in an interview that “The Old Man and the Sea” (https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/The Old Man and the Sea) could have been written as a thousand-page masterpiece, including the life, old age, illness and death of every character in the old man’s village. However, such a work has already been written, so he decided to focus on the old man and the sea, letting his own knowledge and experience of the characters and environment in the book become “the part of the iceberg below the water.”

Therefore, when you face your own work, please bravely pick up the pen to revise it, and don’t be afraid to delete those words that seem precious but actually hinder expression. Please remember that every revision is actually a solid step you take on the road of writing. Through continuous learning and practice, we can continue to improve and eventually become better creators.


---

Further reading

• A Fantastic Journey at the Tip of the Pen: How to Write Vivid Travel Experiences
• Sail on the writing journey: Embark on a fantasy adventure of words
• From lightning writing camps to brand resonance: How to build an influential reading community

---

☕️ Invite Vista to have a cup of coffee

---