My Writing Process: Editing and Revising

         The next step of my writing process involves the editing and revising of my piece. I always print out my writing at this point because I have found it is much easier on my eyes to read it as a hard copy. I take this time to try to determine if the reader will be able to understand what I am trying to say and then alter what I find necessary. I like to make corrections on my hard copy with a colored pen so I know what to make changes to. I first read through the draft and look for any spelling or grammar issues that need to be fixed. I often have to situate my punctuation at this point in the writing process as well. I try to make sure that the reader will understand what I am trying to say as much as possible.

         During this period of revision, I also look at the organization and tone of my writing. It helps to read the writing out loud to really hear how the words sound together. I always make sure that my ideas transition well and have a flow to them. This becomes a focus most often when I spend less time in the last few steps because it’s likely that I did not take much time to expand my bullet points. I really attempt to make sure my main ideas and thesis are organized

         Finally, I take this time to make sure all of my claims in my writing are supported. This could mean incorporating an outside source with a reference or simply expanding upon my claims to better support my ideas. I often refer back to any research I have done to be sure I not only cited it correctly, but also make sure there is no evidence of plagiarism. It’s good to be sure that my ideas are truly mine, if they are not cited properly. Overall, this step in my writing process is important because even if my ideas are on paper, it is also important that my writing is presented clearly and organized without spelling and grammar errors. Before I move onto the next portion of my writing process, I try to take another break before actually finalizing the piece.