What’s in a name?

Why the name Red Pen Strategy?

With respect to all my school teachers, it was the copy editors of my college newspaper who introduced me to the pain and pleasure of effective revision. (Shout-out to the Whittier College Quaker Campus.)

Each copy editor would use a different-colored pen to mark up the printed drafts we submitted to their inbox. I would sometimes watch them attempt to rein in my copy, their faces oscillating between delight and befuddlement. (I spent one semester trying to shoehorn the word “whilst” into every article I wrote. They crossed it out every time, which was probably the right call.)

Many of the edits hurt my writerly feelings, but almost all of them made me better at writing. The process was always effective, and I use it today on anything I write or review. I like to use a red pen, primarily because it’s easy to see.

The act of reading on paper, out of view of a computer screen, helps to see things with fresh eyes, catch errors, and more easily consider other perspectives. When I have a red pen in my hand, I am purposefully looking to make things sharper, more accessible, and of greater value. One person who worked with me told me they appreciated seeing the red marks because it implied a safety net of sorts: this has been carefully reviewed, and now it’s ready to go.

The “strategy” part of Red Pen Strategy applies to any work that we do together, written or otherwise. It's all about embracing the process of revision, applying healthy skepticism, and seeking to make things better, even if it hurts a little bit.