In essence, it can be said that this is the process of writing new unique text based on one that already exists.
Let's consider the tricks and techniques of rewriting
First of all, it should be noted that rewriting falls under the concept of copywriting, i.e., it is a subtype of it.
But in copywriting - copyright, there is no such semantic connection as in rewriting-rewrite. Copyright in English (copyright) denotes literally "author's right", while there is no English analogue for the word copywriting at all. That is, when copywriting, something absolutely new is created, previously not covered anywhere, containing new thoughts and reasoning, and with rewriting, nothing new is created, what emerges is simply a unique text containing thoughts, knowledge, or ideas that have already been written before.
Despite the fact that rewriting does not create anything new, it has gained quite wide popularity because:
- it does not require a lot of time and effort;
- no special knowledge is needed, i.e., anyone can do it;
- the cost of rewriting is significantly lower than the original text
- wonderful practice for beginners in the field of rewrite
- a good rewrite is hard to distinguish from a real author's text
That is, rewriting can be called a branching of copywriting, allowing beginners to grow into a decent copywriter, and the customer to get the desired product with minimal costs.
Let's consider the types of rewrites
1. "Superficial" Rewrite
The text is remade sentence by sentence, word by word with full preservation of the structure of the original. The disadvantage of this type of rewrite is that it requires very frequent referencing to the original, which requires large time expenditures.
2. "Deep" Rewrite
The text contains key thoughts of the original, but with a completely different sentence structure and stylistic content that differs from the original. Such a rewrite can be compared to a paraphrase.
Technically, such a rewrite can be called copywriting. Note! copywriting, but not an original author's text. Rewriting uses other people's thoughts and ideas to create something new. Rewriting can be compared to "stealing" (piracy) of the text, but without proof.
We have understood the theory
Now it's time to consider practical techniques used in rewriting texts
Technique №1 "Synonyms"
One of the simplest ways to achieve a rewrite is to change all possible words to synonyms. There are even special programs for this, synonymizers. In general, they can be used for the entire text, but then you will have to spend enough, if not to say an excessive amount of time, to redo it into a readable version. They are actually useful for picking synonyms for specific words, but definitely not for the entire text.
Example of rewrite using synonyms:
Original text: Zhenya approached Nastya and offered a handkerchief.
Text after rewrite: Evgeny approached Anastasia and handed a handkerchief.
Technique №2 "Replacing verbs with nouns"
Most of the verbs can easily be replaced with similar meaning nouns. This technique already allows creating a more qualitative rewriting.
Example of rewrite through verb replacement:
Original text: Nikolay went for a walk in the abandoned old building and met there "friends" who took his watch and wallet.
Text after rewrite: Nikolay's walk in the abandoned building ended up with meeting new "friends", who executed the extraction of his wallet and watch.
Technique №3 "Translating direct speech into indirect"
Everyone understands that it is impossible to rewrite quotes. In order to rewrite such texts, it is necessary to translate direct speech into indirect.
Example of rewrite by replacing direct speech with indirect
Original text: "How can one be healthy when you're morally suffering?" - Anna Pavlovna thought, completely upset.
Text after rewrite: Distressed, Anna Pavlovna thought that a person who is morally suffering cannot be healthy.
Technique №4. "Manipulation with sentences"
If the text contains complex and compound sentences, the easiest way to rewrite it is by breaking it down into parts. Conversely, smaller sentences can be combined into more extensive ones. This method will help achieve a high level of text modification and diversify the techniques used in rewriting.
Example of rewrite through sentence manipulation:
Original text: Soon after the prince, a full-bodied man with a shaved head, in spectacles, beige pants, fashionable at the time, with a fancy jabot and in a black tailcoat came in.
Text after rewrite: A stout young man in spectacles appeared behind the prince. His head was shaved. He was dressed according to the latest fashion of that time: beige trousers, a tailcoat and a jabot.
Technique №5. "Using the passive voice"
The passive voice ranks 2nd in rewriting in terms of application after synonyms. By using this method, you rearrange predicates. The downside of this method is that too frequent use can create awkward constructions.
Example of rewrite using the passive voice:
Original text: The grandfather thoroughly boxed his grandson's ears.
Text after rewrite: The grandson's ears were thoroughly boxed by the grandfather.
Technique №6. "Author's stylistic additions"
This rewrite technique is the most liberal and demonstrates the depth of the rewrite. Mostly, copywriters who are deeply immersed in the rewriting allow themselves to use this technique.
Example of rewrite using stylistic inserts:
Original text: Anna Pavlovna, like a truly good hostess, did not leave any of the silenced guests in her living room without attention and revived the quiet conversation with just one word.
Text after rewrite: Just like a true workshop owner who, while looking around, sees any malfunctions, - so Anastasia Petrovna, passing through her living room, approached the somehow silenced and with just one word or gesture easily restarted the smooth machine of conversations.
Naturally, none of the techniques in rewriting can likely be found in their pure form. All of the above are used in combination. Only a skillful intertwining of all methods allows to achieve truly effective and high-quality rewriting.
To reinforce the understanding of rewriting, we need to consider the combinations of the above techniques
Original text: Nikolay was diligently drawing each uneven letter of his beloved's name on the white wall of a house from the height of the 7th floor. Below, his brave act was being watched by the police, a group of rescuers with a trampoline, and also his beloved, burning with shame and green with anger.
Text after rewrite: The actions of the brave hero, who was carefully tracing each letter of his beloved's name on the snow-white wall of the building at the level of the seventh floor, were being observed by rescuers, ready to catch the hero at any moment, the police, ready to 'nab' him at any moment, and that very beloved girl, ready to sink through the ground from shame and anger.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that rewriting is a good start for every budding copywriter. Use the above techniques in your work and you are guaranteed to achieve a high level of work in rewriting, as well as elevate the status of work in the eyes of the client.