Seven peices of ‘advice’ you NEVER need to hear again, on the topic of revision. Come with me on a myth-busting adventure.
Plus a writing prompt called The Post-Modern Pop Song
7 Myths About Revision—Busted!
After a whirlwind month of writing 31 stories in 31 days, you might be staring at your drafts thinking, “Now what?”
You know what I’m going to say: revision.
But before you dive in—or run away, screaming—let’s bust some of the most common myths about the revision process.
Whether you’re polishing a story for feedback, submission, or your own satisfaction, the revision stage isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. And the first step to making meaningful progress is ditching these seven damaging myths.
Myth #1: Revision is all about seeing where you failed
Truth: Revision is just as much about recognizing what’s working as it is about fixing what isn’t.
- Celebrate what is working. Highlight strong dialogue, compelling characters, or effective structure.
- Notice your growth: spotting a mistake now that you wouldn’t have caught a year ago is progress.
- Revision is an opportunity to elevate your work, not a punishment for past mistakes.
Myth #2: You must leave your story in a drawer for two weeks before revising
Truth: It depends on how you draft.
- If you revise constantly as you go, you might benefit from distance.
- But if you fast-draft and don’t reread until the end, your own story may already feel unfamiliar—perfect for revision.
- Trust your process. If a quick read reveals new insights, go with it.
Myth #3: Revision is all about fixing typos and punctuation
Truth: That’s proofreading—revision is much bigger.
- Typos are low-stakes changes. Your brain loves them because they feel productive and safe.
True revision digs into the heart of your story: plot structure, character arcs, tension, pacing, and emotional impact. - Ask: Is this story saying what I want it to say, in the way I want to say it?
Myth #4: Revision means cutting everything down
Truth: Sometimes revision means adding.
- Overwriters may need to trim. Underwriters might need to flesh out scenes, character moments, or emotional beats.
- If your first draft reads like “we flew to Mars, fought a monster, came home,” you’ll likely need to expand.
- Use revision to build suspense, add sensory detail, and deepen your characters’ journeys.
Myth #5: You must follow the rules—no head hopping, no prologues, no multiple POVs
Truth: All rules are bendable… if you do it well.
- Think of rules as guidelines for what generally works, not commandments.
- If you want to head-hop or use a prologue, learn why it’s discouraged—and then do it intentionally, not by accident.
- Great art comes from bold experimentation. Just be prepared to revise until it works.
Myth #6: Never revise as you go
Truth: Some writers thrive when they revise during drafting.
- Reading over yesterday’s work can build momentum, continuity, and spark ideas.
- The danger is getting stuck in an endless loop of rewriting the beginning.
- Use this rule as a tool, not a law. If revising as you go helps you finish stories—keep doing it.
Myth #7: You must always “show, don’t tell”
Truth: Sometimes, telling is more effective.
- “Show, don’t tell” is valuable—but also vague. Think of it as: Immerse readers in key moments.
- Use showing for emotional turning points, critical scenes, or character revelations.
- Use telling to move through time or fill in non-crucial information. (E.g., “We drove through the hills to the next town” doesn’t need poetic detail unless it serves the story.)
Moral of the tale: Revision is a skill, not a punishment
Revising your stories from May’s challenge is the next step in building your writing practice—and it starts with mindset. Move past the myths. Focus on what’s working, fix what isn’t, and write the stories you want to read.
Here’s how to apply this, this month:
- Choose 2-3 stories to revise.
- Identify what you love about them.
- Use this blog as a checklist to challenge your assumptions.
- Celebrate your progress. You’ve already done the hard part—now you get to shape and sculpt your work.
Remember: there’s no one right way to revise—only the way that works for you.
Ready to dig deeper? Join us in the StoryADay Superstars group for writing sprints, critique weeks, and and extensive library of workshops to help you bring your stories to life, today, not ‘some day’.
::Links::
This episode: storyaday.org/episode228
3-Day Challenge: storyday.org/3dc
The Writing Prompt: https://stada.me/prompt-pop