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Living Revision: A Writer's Craft as Spiritual Practice
A 2018 Nautilus Award Winner in the Creative Process Category
"Revision is the spiritual practice of transformation—of seeing text, and therefore the world, with new eyes. Done well, revision returns us to our original love."
In Living Revision, award-winning author and teacher Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew guides writers through the writing and revision process. With insight and grace, Andrew asks writers to flex their spiritual muscles, helping them to transform their writing as they in turn transform into more curious and reflective human beings. Her expertly honed techniques, exercises, and personal examples will help writers invigorate their work and themselves as they engage the human heart within and across the page. Living Revision is no mere guide with tips and tricks—although it does have those—but a deep and reflective well for writers to draw from as they strengthen their relationship to the creative source.
"Revision is the spiritual practice of transformation—of seeing text, and therefore the world, with new eyes. Done well, revision returns us to our original love."
In Living Revision, award-winning author and teacher Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew guides writers through the writing and revision process. With insight and grace, Andrew asks writers to flex their spiritual muscles, helping them to transform their writing as they in turn transform into more curious and reflective human beings. Her expertly honed techniques, exercises, and personal examples will help writers invigorate their work and themselves as they engage the human heart within and across the page. Living Revision is no mere guide with tips and tricks—although it does have those—but a deep and reflective well for writers to draw from as they strengthen their relationship to the creative source.
312 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2017
28 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew
8 books142 followersHello, fellow readers! I'm using Goodreads to track my reading, to find like-minded book-lovers who want to share titles, and to connect with readers of my books. Feel free to follow my reviews or become a virtual friend.
As a writer, I'm passionate about creating stories that nourish the soul. I love exploring how faith functions, both inside and outside of religious traditions, and depicting the life of the Spirit at our culture's margins.
As a writer, I'm passionate about creating stories that nourish the soul. I love exploring how faith functions, both inside and outside of religious traditions, and depicting the life of the Spirit at our culture's margins.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 11, 2019
Beginning and even intermediate writers will find this book useful if they haven’t come to understand that revision — especially deep revision — gives them a chance to turn adequate work into something extraordinary. “Revision is a form of love,” Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew says. “Creativity is the capacity to see or make newness. Revision is the flourishing of creativity. It is the work of seeing with new eyes ... revision is a natural consequence of growth.”
Experienced writers who have already learned that lesson will appreciate the step-by-step approach, helpful exercises, and “toolboxes” that she offers. For example, “Choose one moment in your story where a shift occurs ... What of the before and after content belongs in your project?”
At every step, her voice is gentle, encouraging, practical, and, as the title says, spiritual. “The work of revision draws bits of heaven down to earth ... the endeavor, regardless of success, is always worthwhile.”
But I think this book speaks too little of the joy of writing. It dwells on the struggles and painful self-discovery, as if writing was always grim labor, and glosses over the thrill of creation, the excitement of seeing a story shaped and reshaped into the thing of beauty you had hoped for, and the near-physical pleasure of doing work that feeds the soul. Writing is hard work, yes, but so is making music. Have you ever noticed how often singers and musicians are smiling onstage? When you write, it’s okay if you smile, too.
Revision doesn’t have to make your heart ache. Actors don’t bemoan rehearsal, and rewriting is the same process in a different art form. If revision is painful, maybe the problem is with your desk chair, not your writing skills or creative soul.
Experienced writers who have already learned that lesson will appreciate the step-by-step approach, helpful exercises, and “toolboxes” that she offers. For example, “Choose one moment in your story where a shift occurs ... What of the before and after content belongs in your project?”
At every step, her voice is gentle, encouraging, practical, and, as the title says, spiritual. “The work of revision draws bits of heaven down to earth ... the endeavor, regardless of success, is always worthwhile.”
But I think this book speaks too little of the joy of writing. It dwells on the struggles and painful self-discovery, as if writing was always grim labor, and glosses over the thrill of creation, the excitement of seeing a story shaped and reshaped into the thing of beauty you had hoped for, and the near-physical pleasure of doing work that feeds the soul. Writing is hard work, yes, but so is making music. Have you ever noticed how often singers and musicians are smiling onstage? When you write, it’s okay if you smile, too.
Revision doesn’t have to make your heart ache. Actors don’t bemoan rehearsal, and rewriting is the same process in a different art form. If revision is painful, maybe the problem is with your desk chair, not your writing skills or creative soul.
May 24, 2018
Living Revision is a treasure trove of insights, references to both classic and newer writing resources (from Strunk & White to Anne Lamott to Mark Doty), practical tips, exercises to improve your revision process, and simply beautiful writing with accessible concepts and a warm, personal tone.
Jarrett Andrew addresses the big challenges writers face, like audience awareness (how it helps and how it can hurt), how to structure a work, choosing the right voice for the material, and getting stuck or feeling overwhelmed by the project. She offers examples from her own writing process and history as well as cites helpful advice from a diverse range of authorities. Her emphasis on a spiritual approach to revision means that she assumes the writer has a serious commitment to their writing, is willing to interrogate themselves and their work, and values the creative process as much as the product.
As an editor who works with writers in a range of genres, I have already recommended this book to several clients and have turned to it as a resource to help my clients with their individual writing challenges and obstacles. I highly recommend this book to any serious writer of fiction or creative nonfiction and also to any editor working with writers at the developmental stage.
Jarrett Andrew addresses the big challenges writers face, like audience awareness (how it helps and how it can hurt), how to structure a work, choosing the right voice for the material, and getting stuck or feeling overwhelmed by the project. She offers examples from her own writing process and history as well as cites helpful advice from a diverse range of authorities. Her emphasis on a spiritual approach to revision means that she assumes the writer has a serious commitment to their writing, is willing to interrogate themselves and their work, and values the creative process as much as the product.
As an editor who works with writers in a range of genres, I have already recommended this book to several clients and have turned to it as a resource to help my clients with their individual writing challenges and obstacles. I highly recommend this book to any serious writer of fiction or creative nonfiction and also to any editor working with writers at the developmental stage.
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April 24, 2024The best part about this book is how it shifts your mindset on revision. One, you are still creating. Two, revision is a spiritual journey.
Lots of other great ideas in this book--I plan to go back and do some of the exercises at a later date--but I must warn you that it is a book with a literary mindset. Andrews talks about working on the same novel for five even ten years. If you write commercial fiction, as I do, the idea of working on the same book for that long is enough to make you want to bang your head against a wall.
On the whole, however, an excellent book. It also appears to be a multilayered book, the kind you can read and glean new information each time. I suppose I'll really, really take it to heart if I'm ever aiming for a Pulitzer.
Lots of other great ideas in this book--I plan to go back and do some of the exercises at a later date--but I must warn you that it is a book with a literary mindset. Andrews talks about working on the same novel for five even ten years. If you write commercial fiction, as I do, the idea of working on the same book for that long is enough to make you want to bang your head against a wall.
On the whole, however, an excellent book. It also appears to be a multilayered book, the kind you can read and glean new information each time. I suppose I'll really, really take it to heart if I'm ever aiming for a Pulitzer.
May 12, 2018
With skill and generosity, Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, a seasoned writer and teacher of writing, shares on these pages what she knows about the critical stage of revision, which means that long period during which you transform something raw and unshapen into a thing of beauty and substance. The subtitle, "A Writer's Craft as Spiritual Practice" reveals an important truth about good writing. As Andrew says in the Introduction, "For your writing to change, you must change." If you're a writer, whether established or aspiring, this is a book to keep with you, close at hand. I certainly will.
June 2, 2018
An excellent craft book with very helpful exercises for every step of revision.
March 10, 2018
The good: This book is a veritable master class on writing, with a ton of inspiration and exercises for all levels. You can read through and catch the highlights, or dive deep get the most out of the book. Either way, you will learn something useful that you can apply right away.
The not so good: If I could offer one criticism, there were a few chapters a bit on the long side for a casual read through. Just keep that in mind if you plan to read it straight through. If you take it slow, I don’t think it’ll be an issue.
The takeaway: An almost 300-page writing class in print, with a good mix of inspiration and instruction.
The verdict: A worthy addition to every writer’s library. Would recommend.
Favorite quote: “I want you to write with spirit and power, to write as though your life is on fire — which it is — and to write to a world thirsty for truth.” (xviii)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The not so good: If I could offer one criticism, there were a few chapters a bit on the long side for a casual read through. Just keep that in mind if you plan to read it straight through. If you take it slow, I don’t think it’ll be an issue.
The takeaway: An almost 300-page writing class in print, with a good mix of inspiration and instruction.
The verdict: A worthy addition to every writer’s library. Would recommend.
Favorite quote: “I want you to write with spirit and power, to write as though your life is on fire — which it is — and to write to a world thirsty for truth.” (xviii)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
February 3, 2018
I refer to this book so often it is already becoming worn. I am currently revising my spiritual memoir, and the timing of this book couldn't be better. When I first got the book I decided to read it all the way through, underlining, of course, but not do any of the exercises. Now as I am encountering specific issues in the draft of my book, I know just where to turn. My new mantra is "What would Elizabeth do? What would Elizabeth say?" I especially love the perspective that not only is writing a spiritual activity or practice, but so is revision. This is when you uncover the true "heartbeat" of the book, as Andrew says. This is when you begin to understand yourself and what you most want to say and offer your potential audience. Yes, there are practical hints and helps (Lots!!) no matter the genre of your writing, but the main message for me, as Andrew say, is "revision is seeing anew." How exciting is that!
March 27, 2018
Living Revision takes the reader-writer from rough draft through various stages of revision to completion. It includes many illustrations and quotes from a treasure trove of writers, from E.B. White to Margaret Atwood to Maxine Hong Kingston, Flannery O’Connor to Zora Neale Hurston to Leonard Cohen, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to Nadia Bolz-Weber to Jonathan Franzen, and many more. The book was a delight to read the first time through, and I hope to go through it once again for the ample writing exercises and tool boxes. Read my full review: Living Revision and Listening for the Heartbeat.
March 12, 2024
Exactly what i needed as i begin another round of revisions
I have highlighted about 50% of this book! That’s not best practice, but every paragraph contains gems of wisdom about writing and life. I’ve done a few of the many exercises in the book so far and already have new insights about my manuscript and it’s possible structure. More importantly, I am coming away with much greater equanimity about this stage of writing my first novel! (Becca Krantz, not Don🙂)
I have highlighted about 50% of this book! That’s not best practice, but every paragraph contains gems of wisdom about writing and life. I’ve done a few of the many exercises in the book so far and already have new insights about my manuscript and it’s possible structure. More importantly, I am coming away with much greater equanimity about this stage of writing my first novel! (Becca Krantz, not Don🙂)
July 4, 2021
This is one of the best, most practical writing books I’ve read, and I’ve read many. With the subtitle of “a writer’s craft as spiritual practice” I wasn’t expecting so much excellent craft, so that was a pleasant surprise. I think this is a book best for seasoned writers but it will point the way for anyone.
November 16, 2019
A hugely helpful, generous guide to revision, with loads of useful exercises to help see your work in new ways.
December 14, 2024
The best book on revision I’ve ever read!
June 21, 2018
I am a writer. Most days I believe it. I have that badge that all real writers have: rejection letters from magazine submissions failed attempts and false starts, a loud inner critic and writer's block. But also, I have moments where I write something (often on my blog, but also for sermons) and I know my words hit home. I share myself and others find themselves in what I've written. I haven't written anything long form, because I don't know how —I'm afraid of it—I've never done it, and feel too scattered to engage a topic in a sustained way. One day, I will find my literary muse and produce something beautiful to offer the world. Until then, all I have are my eclectic musings on faith and spirituality and vocational frustration (my most popular blog posts have been about making fun of Christian music and bad job interviews).
But enough about me. Isn't this supposed to be a book review? You are right. The book is called Living Revision: A Writer's Craft as Spiritual Practice by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew. She teaches memoir, essay, and journal writing at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, is the recipient of the Minneapolis State Arts Board artists' fellowship and has been a Minneapolis Book Award finalist. She is the author of Writing the Sacred Journey, On the Threshold: Home, Hardwood and Holiness and the novel Hannah, Delivered.
Andrew has a heap of helpful advice for would-be-authors on writing,—clarifying and communicating the story, and the whole revision process. By this, she doesn't mean revision in the sense of copy editing, getting your grammar in order, all your "i's" dotted and "t's" crossed and your modifier's grounded. Instead, Andrew speaks of revision as the complicated but profound journey of creativity, where a writer engages their work and dares to see it anew. This involves both holding our work lightly and engaging it wholeheartedly. It means doing the inner work required to know what we are trying to say, what we are afraid to say, and what we dare not say. In the end, revision helps us clarify our message and transcribe our truth to the page in a way that is both self-aware and inviting.
Andrew has thirteen chapters which guide her readers through the writing process—from the rough first draft, through rewrites and enduring discomfort, reframing, strengthening, restructuring, and attention to language. She has us ask hard questions of our writing, like what is the inner story and subtext? And what is our story asking of us?
So, I took uncharacteristically too long reading this book—in part because I didn't have a piece of writing I was currently working on. However, I did write some shorter things (e.g. sermons, blog posts, book reviews) and did use some of her suggestions. One of the insights from Andrew that I found particularly helpful is her idea that writer begins their drafts and the work of reworking of projects under a cloud of privacy and unknowing (63), but as we engage the work of revisioning, we increasingly open ourselves to our audience. So the act of writing is a pregnant solitude which allows us to press in to our creative flow, but the re-writes and revision bring about a context for communion with our readers. She writes:
This was a profound insight for sermon writing (did I mention that Barbara Brown Taylor writes the forward?).
Throughout the book, are toolboxes designed to help authors engage their work, and exercises to do in your writer's notebook to engage the process of writing—e.g. wrestling with your inner critic and discovering what your story is asking of you. Because I didn't have a sustained project I was working on, some of these exercises weren't helpful for me, though I underlined a butt ton and there are things I'll come back to when I have something to work through. The 'spirituality' piece is the inner-work necessary for good writing to emerge. One day I'll get there. I give this four star. - ★ ☆ ★ ☆
Notice of material connection: I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher, via SpeakEasy, in exchange for my honest review.
But enough about me. Isn't this supposed to be a book review? You are right. The book is called Living Revision: A Writer's Craft as Spiritual Practice by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew. She teaches memoir, essay, and journal writing at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, is the recipient of the Minneapolis State Arts Board artists' fellowship and has been a Minneapolis Book Award finalist. She is the author of Writing the Sacred Journey, On the Threshold: Home, Hardwood and Holiness and the novel Hannah, Delivered.
Andrew has a heap of helpful advice for would-be-authors on writing,—clarifying and communicating the story, and the whole revision process. By this, she doesn't mean revision in the sense of copy editing, getting your grammar in order, all your "i's" dotted and "t's" crossed and your modifier's grounded. Instead, Andrew speaks of revision as the complicated but profound journey of creativity, where a writer engages their work and dares to see it anew. This involves both holding our work lightly and engaging it wholeheartedly. It means doing the inner work required to know what we are trying to say, what we are afraid to say, and what we dare not say. In the end, revision helps us clarify our message and transcribe our truth to the page in a way that is both self-aware and inviting.
Andrew has thirteen chapters which guide her readers through the writing process—from the rough first draft, through rewrites and enduring discomfort, reframing, strengthening, restructuring, and attention to language. She has us ask hard questions of our writing, like what is the inner story and subtext? And what is our story asking of us?
So, I took uncharacteristically too long reading this book—in part because I didn't have a piece of writing I was currently working on. However, I did write some shorter things (e.g. sermons, blog posts, book reviews) and did use some of her suggestions. One of the insights from Andrew that I found particularly helpful is her idea that writer begins their drafts and the work of reworking of projects under a cloud of privacy and unknowing (63), but as we engage the work of revisioning, we increasingly open ourselves to our audience. So the act of writing is a pregnant solitude which allows us to press in to our creative flow, but the re-writes and revision bring about a context for communion with our readers. She writes:
Here's the trick to sustaining a joyful, healthy relationship with writing through revision and beyond publication. Never abandon your space of curiosity, freedom, and love. Our work may travel outward to meet an audience. We may meet the audience as well, which is a tremendous privilege. But the source of a writer's well-being is that safe place where we can be intimate, honest, and adventurous. We neglect it at our peril (66).
This was a profound insight for sermon writing (did I mention that Barbara Brown Taylor writes the forward?).
Throughout the book, are toolboxes designed to help authors engage their work, and exercises to do in your writer's notebook to engage the process of writing—e.g. wrestling with your inner critic and discovering what your story is asking of you. Because I didn't have a sustained project I was working on, some of these exercises weren't helpful for me, though I underlined a butt ton and there are things I'll come back to when I have something to work through. The 'spirituality' piece is the inner-work necessary for good writing to emerge. One day I'll get there. I give this four star. - ★ ☆ ★ ☆
Notice of material connection: I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher, via SpeakEasy, in exchange for my honest review.
July 19, 2023
This book guides writers in reimagining their project, coming at the rewrite as a positive, fulfilling experience fuelled with the same passion that helped the first draft meet the page. Instead of the idea that your first draft sucked and now you have to go back and fix it, the idea here is that the first draft is giving you the framework, the basic story on which to build what you really wanted to write. The exercises in exploration and creativity unleash new ways to think about your book, whether it's memoir, fiction, poetry, etc. It's the first time I've been excited about a rewrite. Suddenly my characters are more alive than their story. I can imagine telling the story in new ways with way more depth. Even though my first time through this book I skipped some of the exercises (many) thinking that looking inside myself was not going to improve my fiction novel, I went through this book again, did the exercises and came out with a new level of curiosity and excitement about my novel's possibilities.
September 8, 2019
Andrew gives good advice about revision and recasts it from a labor and chore to the very heart of writing, which I really appreciate. The more I write, the more I discover this to be true.
My only critique of the book is that the way she talks about writing is like writing therapy. I'm not sure I believe that all creative writing is really a working out of our deep seated emotions or beliefs. Andrews only way of approaching revision is through emotion, and in that way, the book feels a little monotone.
My only critique of the book is that the way she talks about writing is like writing therapy. I'm not sure I believe that all creative writing is really a working out of our deep seated emotions or beliefs. Andrews only way of approaching revision is through emotion, and in that way, the book feels a little monotone.
December 26, 2023
Short Review
Easy 5 stars. I can't help but feel even some experienced novelists and published authors could gain a lot from this book. As an author myself, and I use the word author in the way Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew does, I expect to revisit this book a lot. A lot of great food for thought. A lot of great exercises that make you think about a current project. A lot of things that make sense overall and really get to the heart of what it means to write. This is probably one of the most definite revision craft books out there and the one with the most staying power.
Easy 5 stars. I can't help but feel even some experienced novelists and published authors could gain a lot from this book. As an author myself, and I use the word author in the way Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew does, I expect to revisit this book a lot. A lot of great food for thought. A lot of great exercises that make you think about a current project. A lot of things that make sense overall and really get to the heart of what it means to write. This is probably one of the most definite revision craft books out there and the one with the most staying power.
May 22, 2019
This is an excellent craft book to help any writer re-vision the revision process. I know I will return to it often to reference her helpful suggestions, exercises, and expert advice. I was expecting and hoping for more a little more on the "spiritual practice" part of the title, whereas this is really mainly a craft book. But a very good one.
September 12, 2020
Required reading if you wish to write ... well! Not a nuts and bolts approach. Deeper and transcendent. More how to look at your material and find its essence and then shaping it. Many morsels of wisdom in these pages. I shall return to it often as I work through the stages of my writing. Highly recommended!
March 23, 2019
One of the best books on revision I've ever read. I've given it as gifts to many writer friends, and they all love it, too. If you don't consider yourself "spiritual," don't dismiss this book: it is filled with practical suggestions and a deep understanding of the writing process.
September 3, 2025
This book has a place amongst the books I plan to read several times.
This is a generous book filled with suggestions on the difficult process of revising one‘s writing and sage insights for spiritual transformation
This is a generous book filled with suggestions on the difficult process of revising one‘s writing and sage insights for spiritual transformation
May 10, 2019
Re-reading in preparation for the heavy lifting of revising latest WIP. A must-have in every authors tool box.
December 14, 2020
So useful. The best book on revising and one that I’ll turn to again and again.
January 31, 2021
A personal favourite, a must-have, a therapist, a best friend, a challenger, a cheerleader, the reality check.
October 23, 2022
Incredible. Recommended to me by a writing coach. It took me over a year to get through it, but I loved it so much. It’s highlighted, underlined, and earmarked. A great tool for writers.
April 18, 2025
The Best.
November 24, 2025
The best book I've ever read on revision.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews