Day 10: Compare

Here comes the full circle ending, nerds. Open up two Word documents: your initial manuscript and your final polished manuscript. Use the compare documents feature (tools—>track changes—>compare documents). Marvel. Weep. Then answer the reflection questions below:

  • Revisit your initial expectations and beliefs about revision from day one. What expectations have been confirmed? How have your beliefs changes?
  • Reflect briefly on what you did in each of these categories of revision: adding, cutting, reordering, substitution.
  • How did your revisions change your view of the characters or your interpretation of the story? That is, how did the meaning change from the initial draft?
  • How did this regimen change you as a writer? How are you different now—in philosophy or practice—than before this regimen?