Unless it's documentation, I don't do major revisions

That's right! I don't do major revisions once I publish something. Once it's out there, I move on to the next project. The only exception is technical documentation. By nature, technical documentation is fluid because it's contingent on the product or service it documents. So if there's a major update to a software, I would expect major changes to the documentation. Even with minor software updates, depending what's changed, I would expect changes in the documents too.

We technical writers are constantly writing, editing, and revising materials when we're actively working on projects. Some may call it a curse. I call it a blessing because we get further use and hone our craft.

So my rule of no revisions doesn't apply to technical writing or technical documentation. I'm talking about published works outside of this realm. 

Erases Your Growth

When we go back and do a revision of work we've created and published, it erases the growth we've made as writers. (I'm not talking about works that need periodic or regular editions. In those cases, you would need revisions to keep your material relevant or accurate.)

My earlier work isn't good. So what! While I still don't believe I'm a good writer, I've seen continual growth since I dedicated myself to the craft.

Growing Since My Novel

When I published my novel The Unlikely Messenger in 2019, it was a feat. I was in knots whether it was good but I pulled the trigger to get it out. It was sitting somewhere tucked away for years. My thinking was if I wrote something and I'm okay with it, then why leave it unpunished?

I'd probably cringe if I looked at my novel again. It's been a while. I know I've changed since then, especially in matters of eschatology. I've also tried have a more consistent Christian worldview since then, though I still have a long way to go.

Would I write a dystopian novel again? No! While tyranny, evil, and injustice is rampant, dystopian societies don't last for the long haul. They either end in overthrows or implosions. History shows they always go into their dustbins where they belong. So if the powers that be managed to create a one world government, it would be destined to fall apart. Even if God doesn't intervene, people's egos, especially those in power, will make it implode or nations would break away anyway after getting tired being told what to do.

But would I go back and make revisions to my novel? No! For if I did that, it would no longer be the story that I wrote. I'm okay with the follies, blind spots, and probably bad writing that's in there. It's a benchmark for me to know where to go from here.

I Let Blog Posts Stand, Well Mostly

I don't even go back and revise my blog posts either. If I went back to say it better, then it would no longer be the posts that I've made. The only exceptions would be spelling and grammar errors or a factual error if I notice. Besides that, the posts stand.

Cancel Culture Nullifies Progress

The cancel culture is beyond ridiculous because it doesn't allows us to be humans. Are there stupid or evil things we all may have said or done? Yes! No one is above this folly. Let's discuss them honestly. Let's own up to them. But to cancel people for what they said or written years ago even they don't believe those things anymore, and even now repudiate those previous beliefs, negates their growth. Those past errors and evils are there for us to learn from. (I'm not talking about people that are still doing and saying stupid and evil things.) If we erase or cancel them, then we're more apt to repeat the same evils or follies because we'll no context or history to move forward from. 

Be Careful about Embracing this Mentality

Be careful about embracing the cancel culture. If we're going to be consistent with embracing the cancel culture, we have to erase everything, including ourselves. As Jesus said, be careful about the measure we use for it will be used against you.

Any writer worth their salt should understand the danger of the cancel culture mentality. This mentality will destroy vigor in all writing, including technical writing. I'm glad people have pushed back on it. I hope this absurdity goes into its dustbin. I digress.

Don't Erase Your Mistakes

The easiest way to hit a plateau where your writing becomes sterile is where you're obsessed with erasing imperfections. How will you know that you've grown and progress as a writer, if you can't embrace your earlier mistakes? Accept that you made them. Learn from them and move on. 

Be Human and Understand the Journey

We as writers must be at peace with what we put out, even if it makes us cringe. I still cringe at earlier technical documentation I've written, even if it was a short time before.

Seeing the progress you've made as a writer is far better and more rewarding than trying to have everything look and sound "perfect."  That sounds boring and machine-like. Be human. Understand we're all on a journey as writers.