Revise With a Strategy

At some point in the dissertation process, it will be time to revise your work. For many writers, revising is easier than writing a first draft. It can even feel fun or exciting as you develop your ideas, explore new territory, and polish your writing.

Bolker (1989) noted that one of the best-kept writing secrets is that the more you revise, the clearer and more natural your writing becomes. She also reminds us that simple, elegant writing comes less from inspiration and more from hard work (p. 116). Still, revision can feel overwhelming and anxiety-provoking without a plan.

Below are several strategies to make revision more systematic and doable.

1) Revise on Paper When Changes Are Big

If you are revising individual sentences or paragraphs, revising on a screen may be fine. But if you are reorganizing a section, chapter, or making substantial revisions, it is often better to print a hard copy.

A printed draft lets you:

  • Lay pages side by side

  • See larger sections at once

  • Notice gaps, repetition, and flow issues more easily

  • Avoid endless scrolling that makes big-picture thinking harder

2) Create a ā€œRevision Inventoryā€ Before You Start

If your revisions are substantialā€”or based on someone elseā€™s feedbackā€”begin by making an inventory of what needs to change before you dive into editing.

Think of feedback as typically falling into two categories:

  • Line edits (spelling, grammar, rephrasing, cutting sentences)

  • Substantive edits (content, argument, clarity, structure, missing literature, organization)

How to Build Your Revision Inventory

  • Inventory Item #1: Complete all recommended line edits (you do not need one item per line edit)

  • Then list each substantive change as its own item, such as:

    • Add more literature to a paragraph on page 2

    • Strengthen a specific part of your argument

    • Clarify a confusing description of a study

    • Reorganize a section to improve flow

As you read through the entire document, catalogue all feedback and note any questions you want to ask the reviewer.

You can also create a revision inventory based on your own read-through, using your instincts about what feels unclear, out of place, or underdeveloped.

3) Use the Inventory to Make Revision Feel Doable

Once you have a revision inventory, you can translate it directly into your weekly action plan.

For example, you can:

  • Assign specific inventory items to specific days

  • Work through revisions in a systematic order

  • Track progress more clearly

Clients who consistently create revision inventories often:

  • Revise more efficiently and on a timelier schedule

  • Feel less overwhelmed by feedback

  • Handle ā€œharshā€ feedback better, because it becomes a list of tasks rather than a vague judgment

Often, when you face the feedback directly, it turns out to be more manageable than it first felt.

4) Deconstruct Your Draft Before You Rebuild It

If revising feels overwhelming, try doing a deconstruction of your most recent draft.

This means reading your draft to identify:

  • What you have actually written

  • What seems out of place

  • What seems to be missing

  • What is worth keeping as-is

  • What needs substantial revision or reorganization

Create a Reverse Outline

Many students find it helpful to create a reverse outlineā€”a rough outline of what is already on the page. It does not need to be formal. It can include:

  • A list of headings or topics covered

  • Main points under each section

  • Notes about what feels confusing, disorganized, repetitive, or thin

  • Reminders about missing pieces or transitions

This process often makes it easier to create a new outline for how you want the revised version to look.

You can also include:

  • Notes about further reading you need to do

  • Questions or dilemmas to talk through with others

5) Two Additional Revision Strategies

Bolker (1998) also offers two practical suggestions:

  • Read your work out loud to hear how it sounds

  • Revise for simplicity, aiming to:

    • Simplify sentences

    • Be more direct

    • Reduce jargon

Keep Experimenting Until You Find What Works

There is no single right way to revise. The key is to keep strategizing until you find the approachā€”or combination of approachesā€”that works best for you.

Revising is where your draft becomes clearer, stronger, and more natural. With a strategy, revision becomes less overwhelming and much more productive.

This article was written by Alison Miller, PhD, founder of The Dissertation Coach, a business dedicated to helping doctoral and master’s students successfully earn their graduate degrees.

 

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