CREATIVE

NONFICTION
Lesson 6: Revising the Draft
of a Short Piece
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able
to:
1. Use prompts to rewrite an outline of a narrative
piece;
2. Revise a draft using A.R.M.S. and;
3. Revise a written narrative draft by applying the
considerations of literary conventions in a genre.
(HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ib-d-7)
Subject Matter

Lesson 6: Revising the Draft of a

Short Piece
I. ACTIVATION OF PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Direction: Improve the following narrative leads to make them more
accurate and sensible to read. The first one is done for you.

DRAFT REVISED

1. The COVID has killed about 2.9 million The novel corona virus has killed at least 2.9 million people since
people since it started in China, according the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a
to official sources. tally from official sources.
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

REVISION literally means to “see again,” to look at

something from a fresh, critical perspective. It is an
ongoing process of rethinking the paper: reconsidering
your arguments, reviewing your evidence, refining
your purpose, reorganizing your presentation, reviving
stale prose.
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

WHY REVISE?
 Revision allows the writer to improve. Revisiting the first
draft enables the writer to see the nuances in structure,
plot, characterization, point of view, conflict, climax,
resolution and theme.
 Revision enables the writer to correct mistakes and
oversights, to add, to delete, to improve and to polish a
first attempt. Revising your work gives you the chance
to improve your draft to your best work.
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

REVISE VS EDIT
A.R.M.S. C.U.P.S.

ADD – sentences and words CAPITALIZE – names, places titles, months, etc.

REMOVE – words and sentences you do not need USAGE – nouns and verbs are correctly used

MOVE – change a word or placement of a PUNCTUATION – periods, quotes, commas,

sentence semicolons, apostrophes, etc.

SUBSTITUTE – trade words or sentences for new SPELLING – check all words, look for
ones homophones, use a dictionary
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE
Author Susan Bell, in “The Artful Edit,” suggests you distance yourself before revising.
Here are a few recommendations she provides in her book:

 Don’t reread as you write.

 Don’t revise as you write your first draft.
 Write your complete first draft of a poem, chapter, section.
And then take a break.
 After the break, reread your work aloud to hear how it
sounds.
 Once you have taken a break and reread your work, begin
revising your work.
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN REVISING

II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

• Purpose and Audience

• Focus
• Organization and
Paragraphing
• Content
• Point of view
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

HOW TO REVISE?
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

A better way to revise is to write the entire draft

Read it aloud and make notes of things you don’t
like.
Revise your creative writing several times before
submitting.
Work on getting your poem, story or essay or
article right-making it the best you can.
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

Two Ways to Revise

Creative Non Fiction
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

MACRO REVISION
For a macro revision of a personal narrative essay or
fictional story, these are some of the things you need to
consider when revising creative nonfiction (e.g. narrative
piece) using literary conventions.
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE
Setting and Time

• Ensure that the beginning tells the reader what the story is all about
and why they should read it. Ensure also that the beginning grabs the
reader’s attention.

• Ensure that the story has a setting. It shows the time and pace of
the story. It can be a backdrop, antagonist, or the mood of the story.
Does the story, at the minimum, have taken place at a particular time
and place? Is the setting realistic and believable?
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

Character/Characterization

• Revise to enhance the central character. Does the

central character have a motive? Character flaws? Have
you developed the character with dialogue, behavior, or
appearance? Does the character have desire to reach
some goals?
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

Plot/Plot Structure

• Revise to improve the structure. Is there a beginning,

middle and ending? Is there an inciting incident?
Problem? Setbacks? Or obstacles? Climax or turning
point? Resolution to the story?

• Ensure that your story has an ending. Is the ending

correct? Open? Or Closed?
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

Style
• Revise for style. Do you use a consistent voice? Tone? Diction? Sentence
variety?
Voice:
• Ensure that the story has a correct and consistent point of view. First person
(1)? Second person (you)? Third person (He/She)?
• Ensure that you have included concrete and specific and significant details
and descriptions.
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

Theme

• Ensure that the story has a theme. What is

the implicit meaning of your work? Do
symbols help to develop the theme? Is the
theme revealed in the conflict? Is the theme
revealed in the consequences of the story?
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE
Form- narrative, meditative, surreal, image, or prose
Line break- for emphasis, enjambment ad rhyme
Stanza
Diction-word choice
Figurative or poetic language such as simile or metaphor or imagery
Concrete and significant details
Description
Grammar- syntax and punctuation
Right voice and style
Sound such as alliteration or assonance or rhyme
Rhythm and meter
Point-of-view- first, second, third person, or invented persona
Theme-meaning of the poem
II. ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE

MICRO REVISION

Micro revision, in the context of the writing process, is the phase

where writers focus on fine-tuning the specific details and language
aspects of their text. It involves a close and careful examination of the
smaller, more granular elements of a written work, such as grammar,
punctuation, word choice, style, and formatting. Micro revision comes
after macro revision, which deals with larger structural and content
issues.