James Van Pelt posted the following on Speculations Rumor Mill (a message board for spec fiction writers; you don't have to subscribe to the quarterly spec fiction market gold mine known as Speculations to participate, but usually people who become involved in the RM end up subscribing, because it's so valuable for a writer). He's generously given me permission to post it here, for the use of writers who might find it useful! You can find the link to Jim's web page here.
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Revision

General Principles of Revision:

Is it specific? (has anything been generalized that could be more specifically named to the benefit of the work?)

Are unnecessary words eliminated? (most drafts will benefit by being tightened)

Is it unique? (do any of the things the work says strikes you as familiar, either in what it says or how it says it?)

Does it make connections? (most interesting work relates two or more things that you wouldn't ordinarily connect)

Does it provoke a thought or emotion? (one way to measure "great" literature is that love it or hate it, it provokes a reaction)

Does it read out loud well? (a sure test for any writing)

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