I want to share a rewriting tip that might be helpful. In any word processing application (Word, Docs, etc.) there is the highlight tool. When I do my rewriting, I will highlight what I read in yellow. This means “not done yet” so I can review it later. It also keeps my place, almost like a bookmark. And, it keeps me focused on the words I need to rework. Once I’m done marking it up with yellow, I’ll go back, re-read and rework the words. If I’m satisfied with the progress, I’ll mark it in green. This means “ready to move on.” Once a chapter is marked up in green, I’ll move on to the next chapter.

I found this to be helpful because it builds accountability in my rewriting process. I’ll take a minimum of two passes before moving on to the next chapter. And, if I’m still not satisfied with a particular passage, but the rest is still good, I’ll keep that section highlighted in yellow and then move on. Once I have the “a-ha” moment, I can go back to that place, fix it, and turn it green.

This method works for me because it provides a sense of progress. Looking at a page in white bears no distinction between what’s done and what still requires work. It’s satisfying to see more pages become green as the rewriting process continues.