The Writing Process

Most experienced writers develop a writing process. It is not something that happens quickly but through practice. My own process has helped me write for a number of years. I share it with you as a starting point to help you develop your own set of writing steps.

1. The Outline – I start with an outline when writing anything.  It is a road map of my ideas.  It also helps me keep on track when writing novels and it indicates where I may need to do research. I do not always stay on course with my outlines but they do help to keep me on track. 
2. Prewriting – This is where ideas are formed into sentences.  When doing a prewrite, I do not worry about grammar or sentence structure the goal is to get my ideas down in writing. This is where your blog, novel or paper is formed so do not read your content until you have exhausted your ideas.    
3. Rewrite – This is where you polish what you have written.  Sentences are restructured.  Descriptions of events and people are expanded.  Dialog is improved. Grammar is corrected.  This step often takes the longest because it where your final piece takes shape.  I have known novelists to stay on this step for years until they have felt their work was complete.  
4. Editing – This is the final phase and can take as long as a rewrite.  This is where the writer looks for grammatical errors, redundant wording, passive sentences and readability issues.  I recommend that you have at least one person read your final copy before the final step. Try to find a good editor to give you the honest feedback needed for revisions.
5. Publishing - Books have been written on this subject and I suggest you read at least one of these publications. Do not take the criticism of your work personally and reject is a part of the process.