The art of revision The last word

Novelist Davies (A Lie Someone Told You About Yourself) draws on his experience teaching at the University of Michigan's writing program in this terrific guide to revising fiction. "Perhaps our ultimate resistance to revision, to doneness is that it prefigures death--the final draft, the last word," Davies writes. He rejects Thomas Wolfe's categorization of writers as either "putter-inners" or "taker-outers" and posits that revision is the process of finding out what one really means to do with a story and involves both cutting out "darlings" (or the "scaffolding... that can be taken down after the story is built") and by adding when more is needed. Along the way, Davies surveys the methods writers have used for revision, including those of Frank O'Connor and Isaac Babel, and the relationship between Raymond Carver and editor Gordon Lish--in each case, he shows why revisions were made and how they changed a story. Davies also devotes a chapter on knowing when one is done with a story--a moment, he says, "when you understand why you told your story in the first place, what your intent actually was." Full of spirit and sound advice, this survey will be a boon to writers. (Nov.)

A collection of essays that explores an elusive piece of the writing process. As an English professor and novelist who has won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and PEN/Malamud Award, Davies is well situated to tackle the art of revision, which is often invisible, executed behind the scenes, with readers only privy to an author's final draft. In his writing classes, Davies has found that many writers are reluctant to revise their drafts. The author attempts to shine light on this subject and break down barriers by exploring the revision processes of numerous popular writers as well as his own. Among the authors included in the discussion are Hemingway, Joyce, Flannery O'Connor, Raymond Carver, Lauren Groff, and Carmen Maria Machado. Davies also looks at other forms of writing that have benefitted from revision, including serial movies and TV series. As the author demonstrates--and as many aspiring writers will acknowledge--the first draft is often hard to let go. Having a first-is-best bias, some writers romanticize their inspirations and are reluctant to make changes. Davies offers another perspective from which writers should view their work. He is clear about the importance of revision, an ongoing project of discovery that allows authors the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their stories and refine their intent--and their chosen title, if needed. Through the author's close analysis of popular works, as well as insight on the topic from other writers, the power of this crucial step in the writing process is evident. But how does a writer know when enough is enough? Davies also discusses the risks associated with obsessive revision. Ultimately, in finding the sweet spot, the author suggests that the endpoint be "the point at which the opinions of others no longer burden us." A fresh perspective on revision that should inspire even apprehensive writers. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.