9780226410517

022641051X

9780226410654

022641065X

9780226410791

"Revision is a kind of writing, argues William Germano, indeed the only writing that ultimately counts. That's because only revision makes a piece of writing worth the time and attention of readers. With the wit and wisdom that distinguished his now classic guides Getting It Published and From Dissertation to Book, Germano explains how to get your writing up to the level where it matters not just to yourself but to others. Revision goes far beyond the usual advice to cut for concision, discussing revision as expansion, structural revision across the larger span of a work, revision as response to one's audience, and revision as rethinking. Although full of practical advice, this book is no mere how-to, and to approach it only as a guide wouldn't do it justice. It is also a learned, deeply thoughtful essay on what impels revising, and on the writer's task"-- Provided by publisher.

"...Revision is about getting from good to better, and it's only finished when you decide to stop. But where to begin? In On Revision, William Germano shows authors how to take on the most critical stage of writing anything: rewriting it. For more than twenty years, thousands of writers have turned to Germano for his insider's take on navigating the world of publishing. A professor, author, and veteran of the book industry, Germano knows what editors want and what writers need to know: Revising is not just correcting typos. Revising is about listening and seeing again. Revising is a rethinking of the principles from the ground up to understand why the writer is doing something, why they're going somewhere, and why they're taking the reader along with them. On Revision steps back to take in the big picture, showing authors how to hear their own writing voice and how to reread their work as if they didn't write it. On Revision will show you how to know when your writing is actually done--and, until it is, what you need to do to get it there." Publisher's description.

Chicago guides to writing, editing, and publishing

Press start

Good to better

Know what you've got

Look for an argument

Build an architecture

Remember the audience

What writing wants.

Manuscripts > Editing.

Manuscripts > Editing.