Monday, January 24, 2011

What a difference a second draft can make


“NO SPEECHWRITERS WERE INVOLVED. THE WORDS WERE ROOSEVELT’S OWN, AND WE STILL POSSESS THE TYPED TEXT THAT WAS MADE FROM THIS SESSION—HEAVILY MARKED IN PENCIL WITH THE PRESIDENT’S SUBSEQUENT REVISIONS. IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION, THE MESSAGE BEGAN AS FOLLOWS: “YESTERDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1941, A DATE THAT WILL LIVE IN WORLD HISTORY…”
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A SECOND DRAFT CAN MAKE.”
—John W. Dower, Cultures Of War

I can't take credit for this finding this gem, but I hope you enjoy it and find inspiration for your next round of revisions. 

2 comments: