Good writing requires rewriting
People who need to do everything right the first time are generally poor writers because the key to good writing, especially in business, is rewriting. Here's why:
The first word that comes to mind is always a familiar choice but not necessarily the best one. This is how clichés and trite phrases slip into our prose. To avoid this, good writers depend on a dictionary and a thesaurus. For example, I know I overuse the word "effective." My fingers mindlessly plop it on the screen as my mind races ahead to the next thought. By looking the word up each time I try to use it, I force myself to consider alternatives: efficient, operational, effectual, efficacious. In the end, I might indeed settle on "effective," but not before I've had a chance to think about it.
The first word that comes to mind is always a familiar choice but not necessarily the best one. This is how clichés and trite phrases slip into our prose. To avoid this, good writers depend on a dictionary and a thesaurus. For example, I know I overuse the word "effective." My fingers mindlessly plop it on the screen as my mind races ahead to the next thought. By looking the word up each time I try to use it, I force myself to consider alternatives: efficient, operational, effectual, efficacious. In the end, I might indeed settle on "effective," but not before I've had a chance to think about it.
What's more, I often dribble around an idea before I take a shot at what I really want to say. My drafting strategy is simple: "Get it down quickly, get it right later." This only works if you're willing to rewrite your first draft.
To prove the point, consider this: Have you ever written something, only to lose it all when your computer crashed? Now here's a bet: When you tried to recreate the original, your second version, in spite of your annoyance at the extra effort, was better as well as shorter.
And that's the secret: Rewriting always improves word selection, cuts down on length and adds flavor. In short, it's effective.
Posted by Edward D. Miller at 11/5/2010 10:49 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: drafting Business writing rewriting
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: drafting Business writing rewriting
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