The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.  You can always do it better, find the exact words, the apt phrase, the leaping simile.”  –  Robert Cormier

I created a revision handout for one of my composition classes that comes from the book Deep Revision by Meredith Sue Willis.  Every time I use this with a class I’m reminded how useful the ideas are for my own work whether fiction or creative nonfiction.  Here are some of the ideas you can give a try:

1. Enrich your draft.  Go back to what you have written and add details to the beginning, middle, and end.  Write in the margins, between lines, and add new passages.  The objective is to add material throughout the draft, material such as sense impressions. (What gesture did she use when she said that? Was it a hot day or cold? What sounds were in the background? What did his cologne smell like?)  Describe a setting, people, action, tones of vice, thoughts.  Include narration to give background.  This process is a means of both adding and expanding, and a means of going deeper – slowing down time, as it were – and re-seeing or re-imagining. (Writing with detail) 
2. Try writing 3-5 different opening lines for your piece.  Show it to a friend and ask them to choose which of the beginnings would most entice them to continue reading your essay. (Hooking your reader)
3. Try a Rapid Read.  Go through your piece as fast as you can, looking for anything that seems out of place or uninteresting.  Mark these passages for possible cutting.  Then, go back and reread your piece without those passages and decide if they need to be cut entirely, moved to another spot, or rewritten more interesting or clearly. (Unity and cohesion)
4. Try revising your piece backwards to look closely at your word choice.  Start at the end (read the last sentence first) and look for bland words that can be replaced, repetition, or awkwardness in your writing.  Mark these places for revisions. (Word choice)