Which writing process involves replacing a previous effort with a new, more effective one?

The writing process that involves replacing a previous effort with a new, more effective one is rewriting. When an author rewrites, they take an existing draft and make significant changes, potentially overhauling the structure, content, and style of the piece to improve clarity, engagement, or effectiveness. This process often includes generating entirely new ideas or approaches to the same topic, which distinguishes it from other phases of writing that focus more on refinement rather than complete replacement.

In contrast, revising generally involves making adjustments to existing text without completely discarding it, usually focused on enhancing the overall coherence and flow. Editing focuses primarily on correcting grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors, ensuring that the final version is polished and error-free. Polishing refers to the final touches added to a piece, improving the language and presentation without altering the fundamental content or structure. Therefore, rewriting is the most appropriate term to describe the act of substantially replacing an earlier draft with a new one.