Revision BlockA CURATION PROJECT PROPOSAL

BY BRIANNE HOLMES

What is Revision Block? Revision block is writer’s block during the revision stage.

In revision block, something hinders writers from re-imaging their writing, or something keeps them from applying their re-imaginings to their written work.

Writers may feel trapped.

Questions I Might Investigate What causes revision block?

How is the revision process different from drafting processes?

Is revision block fundamentally different from writer’s block that happens earlier in the writing process?

How can teachers encourage students to move past revision block?

Are there helpful questions or exercises teachers can use to help students become unblocked?

Why Research Revision Block? Personally, I have a strange relationship with revision. As a creative writer, I revise to the point of obsession. When writing more academic papers, however, I loathe large-scale revision.

I have observed in others the same reticence to revise, both in creative and academic works.

Since revision is emphasized so strongly in creative writing, I am wondering how it is approached in composition and whether there can be parallels.

I was intrigued by Mike Rose’s article “Inflexible Plans, and the Stifling of Language.” I’m wondering if some of his ideas and strategies can be employed at the revision stage.

Why Research Revision Block? As a writing consultant, writer, and prospective teacher, I would like to find strategies for overcoming revision block and helping others do the same.

I want to kick over revision block, so that we can move on to more engaging, stimulating, writing.