create_text_containers.rb

class CreateTextContainers < ActiveRecord::Migration
  def self.up
    create_table :text_containers do |t|
      t.string :formatting
      t.text :body
      t.boolean :is_published
      t.boolean :is_initial_record, :default => true
      # ... and all the other revisable fields
      t.timestamps
    end
  end
  def self.down
    drop_table :text_containers
  end
end

notes.txt

My use case requires that a TextContainer be created/saved in an invalid state,
with default values for its fields. On its 'first' update/save I want to 
'overwrite' the original ... then every update thereafter I want it revise 
as normal.

ie. I'm trying to avoid having that initial invalid record in my 
revision history.

text_container.rb

class TextContainer < ActiveRecord::Base
  acts_as_revisable do
    revision_class_name "TextContainerVersion"
  end
  
  before_revise :dont_revise_if_initial_record!

  def dont_revise_if_initial_record!
    if is_initial_record.eql?(true)
      self.is_initial_record = false
      self.no_revision!
    end
  end
end

text_container_version.rb

class TextContainerVersion < ActiveRecord::Base
  acts_as_revision :revisable_class_name => "TextContainer"
end