“Opening the Door to God’s Glory”
Dear writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and considered who you might be able to give you an outside perspective on your story! This week, we’re going to shift gears and take a look at the revision process itself.
We often start writing our book with a certain idea in mind and then, as we begin editing, discover that idea has taken on additional clarity and nuance or developed surprising characteristics. Other times, we find we don’t know our story, characters, world, or message quite as well as we thought we did. Sometimes, both scenarios are true at once. But here’s the good news: this phenomena is perfectly normal.
You see, writer, the revision process, at heart, is simply a process of reacquainting yourself with your growing story and then making its message clearer, its strengths stronger, and its weaknesses smaller. But before we dive in, let’s look at some others whose revisions catapulted their lives and impact to a whole new level…
Revisions in History
Michelangelo is a great example of the power of revisions. Did you know that before he painted the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo had been commissioned to create 40 sculptures for the Pope’s private tomb? When a costly war broke out, the Pope instead requested Michelangelo to paint a much more affordable mural of the twelve apostles in the Sistine Chapel. Recognizing the potential of the space, Michelangelo asked to revise the Pope’s request yet again, expanding the work to include the 30 frescoes we see today.
You see, writer, in the process of revising our story, we may find ourselves—not just editing and “tightening” our work—but also shifting or expanding it to fully express the heart and soul of our work with precision and power.
Revision in the Bible
Nehemiah is another great example of a man who knew the power of revising his work and plans as he went. Before Nehemiah worked to restore the walls of Jerusalem, he carefully reviewed the state of both the city and its people to formulate his reconstruction plans. After the work commenced, he adapted and revised those plans to overcome every obstacle that arose to thwart the work. When enemies threatened a direct attack, Nehemiah even equipped the workers with weapons while continuing to build.
Because of Nehemiah’s ability to revise and adapt his plans, the walls of Jerusalem were completed in a miraculous 52 days and stood as a testament to God’s supernatural provision for and protection of His people.
Revisions in Life
My first foray into “revisions” was as a young wife longing to “redo” our house. After several years of de-cluttering and cleaning, my house still failed to embody the beauty and peace I longed for. For some time, I resisted the urge to redecorate and “revise” the space, feeling that I had a purely selfish motive. Plus, we had no budget for something frivolous. At last, my heart won out, and I dove into a free redo by “shopping” my own house and redecorating, rearranging, and revising the space with what I had.
Our house became a haven in the space of a weekend, as I removed what no longer fit us, highlighted the beautiful paintings and art we’d stored, and re-imagined furniture and spaces. And here’s the lovely thing. Our home became a respite, not just for my husband and I, but for friends and family as well as they sought both solitude and fellowship in the midst of their busy lives.
You see, writer, revising your work is about taking the treasure that’s been hidden inside you and ensuring it’s accessible to the world. It’s about recognizing the beautifully unique aspects of your story and voice and developing them fully. Because here’s the thing….
Revisions in Your Life
Books and stories are like children. They begin small and limited and then grow and develop over time. But whereas children grow by default, your story will only develop in proportion to your investment in it.
You see, at heart, revising is about not settling for “good enough.” It’s about taking time, as with a child, to examine your story’s uniquenesses and weaknesses and to work with each until your story reaches the fullness of its expression. An expression that—like a full grown adult—can clearly communicate and captivate hearts as it captivated yours in its infancy. And here’s the real deal…
Though this stage of development takes work, it is more that worth it. Let me prove it to you…
- And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. – Habakkuk 2:2
- Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15
- And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9
- I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:14
You see, writer, here’s the thing. As we take our story from good to great, the revision process refines the unique grace of our God-given story and creates clear doorways for that grace to shine into the lives of others, too.
Where to Start with Revisions
So are you ready to start revising your story? Here are some ideas to get you started!
- Know Your “Why.” Delving into the editing process is a perfect time to review your “why.” Why did you originally write this book? Whose lives was it meant to change and how? Is that message coming through loud and clear? Have any unexpected nuances or aspects grown from that message? Reacquainting yourself with your original vision will help you to…
- Assess Your Story. With your “why” firmly in mind, note your story’s strengths and weaknesses. Where is your “why” not coming through? Revisit those areas and find ways to clarify and strengthen them. You may need to heighten a conflict or deepen character’s motivations. You may need to remove a rabbit trail. Or you may simply need to provide your readers with more information.
- Examine Feedback. If you’ve begun to receive feedback from friends, family, and beta readers, now is a great time to review their notes and look for trends. Were there common threads among the critiques? Did your message come through? How would your readers describe the theme of your book? What messages did they draw from it? The answers to these questions can illuminate points of confusion as well as unexpected gems.
- Go a Level Deeper. As you begin to assess and examine, the revisions stage is also a great time to go a level deeper. Ask yourself, “How well do I really know my characters’ goals, motivations and conflicts? To what depth to I truly understand my subject?” Sometimes have an imaginary interview with your characters can be helpful. Sometimes, doing more research will help round out your story’s “thin” spots. Because here’s the thing…
Your readers will never understand your story better than you do. Every effort you make to clarify and strengthen your story, not only makes for a better book, but it also widens the door for your readers to truly enter into the world of your story for themselves.
Just like Michelangelo’s revisions for the Sistine Chapel reached beyond simple beauty to invite all who enter into the epic story of the Bible. Just like Nehemiah’s adaptability constructed, not just a wall, but the heart and spirit of the remnant of Israel. Just like my home redo not only brought peace to my husband and I, but also created a space where God could minister that peace to others, too. Because here’s the real deal, writer…
Revising your work is really about taking your reader by the hand and walking them through a journey that brings God’s goodness, beauty, and truth to life in a way they’ve never seen it before. Just like the Sistine Chapel lifts the souls and imaginations of millions today. Just like Nehemiah’s wall strengthened Israel’s faith and terrified her enemies. Just like my house has become a haven for all who enter.
So I encourage you today, writer, to go the extra mile and bring God’s gracious gift to you into full focus. As you do, the glory of God will not only shine through your words but into the hearts and minds of others lives, too.
#revisions #editing #vision #growth #glory #EveryWriterWriting
