Revision, Rewriting, Editing? What's The Difference?

Hi Everyone!
I hope you had a lovely week. Mine was... hectic. But staying busy is a good thing, right?

So. I finished my revision. I'm doing a pass-through now, you know make sure there aren't any glaring plot holes or inconsistencies... There aren't any, the lies you speak, Erica!

Ha.

So, I was thinking. What's the difference between Revising, Rewriting, Editing? I really use revise for what I'm doing, but it may really be editing or more like rewriting. So what's the difference?

I'll attempt to tell you. Although, I suspect you may know already, or you don't, and don't want to sound stupid, like me, by asking, 'cause frankly they all seem the same to me... LOL

I'll put the dictionary version (the one on my macbook) and see if that can help us. I'll take a stab at it. Sound fun? Let's try it.

Revision

noun

the action of revising : the plan needs drastic revision.

a revised edition or form of something.

Well, that didn't help.

My take: This is when you are fixing sentences, words, not spelling, more like structure.

Rewriting

verb |rēˈrīt| ( past -wrote ; past part. -written ) [ trans. ]

write (something) again so as to alter or improve it : the songs may have to be rewritten | [ intrans. ] he began rewriting, adding more and more layers.

Oh, come on.

My take: This is when you rewrite whole chapters, plot points, basically make it make sense.

Editing

verb ( edited , editing ) [ trans. ] (often be edited)

prepare (written material) for publication by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying it : Volume I was edited by J. Johnson.

• choose material for (a movie or a radio or television program) and arrange it to form a coherent whole : the footage wasn't good enough to be edited into broadcast form | [as adj. ] ( edited) an edited version drawn from several prerecorded performances.

• be editor of (a newspaper or magazine).

• ( edit something out) remove unnecessary or inappropriate words, sounds, or scenes from a text, movie, or radio or television program.

A little better. But it sounds similar to the others, no?

My take: This is where you clean it up. Get the passive voice under control, find mistakes in grammar, spelling. By this point you should have a coherent story, if not... try revising or rewriting.

So, that's what I think. What about you? Anything to add. Have you always known the difference? Do you agree with my take?

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

<3 Er

erica m. chapman is a YA writer by night, workin' for the cause by day. Fan of football, especially Lions and Michigan. She loves alternative music, Foo Fighters, animals, reading, golf and playing her guitar. She resides in Michigan where she sits quietly typing her next story on her macbook in her Detroit Lions Snuggie. You can also find her at ericachapman.com.