1. Revision begins with a blank page. (David Monahan, Screenwriting) David said exactly this in class and added, "If you do not begin with a blank page, you are editing, not revising." This one sentence changed how I write. When I begin with a blank page, it is much easier to think of the story as a whole, drop scenes that don't move the story forward and "kill the darlings."

2. Criticism is your friend. (Philip Gerard, Novel Writing Workshop I) While it is lovely to hear how wonderful one's work is, it is never perfect. There is always something that can be made better. Thankfully, different people notice different things, and the very best people can tell you what works and what doesn't in a way that doesn't sting too much. Though I may not incorporate all comments into a revision, I at least know why I've kept something the way it is. I learn something new about my writing and writing in general from every critique I receive and give.

3. Do not read your own work too frequently. (Philip Gerard, The Art of Revision) This is especially important for early drafts. If you read a sentence or paragraph over and over, the words become imprinted on your brain in that order. It becomes nearly impossible to see them in any other way. In that situation, how is it possible to truly revise?

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