You can never write the “perfect” first draft. No matter how long you spend on the first draft it will and can not be perfect. The only way to get close to perfection is to revise. To rewrite what you have written. Even though I rarely revise, I agree with this statement. Most students are obsessed with their paper being “good enough” and not obsessed with their paper being “perfect.” We definitely understand that revision is important but it’s not something we would be willing to do if the paper we have written so far meets the guidelines. There is something about more work that turns us off.
I would say revision is like buying an old house, knocking it down, and rebuilding it.
“Good writing is essentially rewriting.” (pg 101) Like I mentioned before you can never write the perfect paper in one sitting. You should never be satisfied with your first draft. You should never be satisfied with something that is “good enough.” It is important to reread and rewrite your paper. It is important to have others look at your paper. There is always something you can reword, something you can add. My creative writing teacher at high school said “during revision you should always read your paper or your peer’s paper as a writer and not as a reader.”