Writing as a ProcessWriting as a Process

Or, “From Blank Page to Finished Or, “From Blank Page to Finished Product in a Few Simple Steps”Product in a Few Simple Steps”

Staring at the blank page…Staring at the blank page…

Before you write down a single Before you write down a single word, you need to word, you need to

PREWRITE.PREWRITE.

PrewritingPrewritingThis is done before you begin to This is done before you begin to

write your masterpiece. It write your masterpiece. It includes:includes:

Choosing the Choosing the topictopicFiguring out your Figuring out your purposepurpose for writing for writing

Considering the Considering the audienceaudience who will read your who will read your writingwriting

Selecting a type or style (Selecting a type or style (genregenre) of writing ) of writing you’re going to doyou’re going to do

Prewriting = TPAG Prewriting = TPAG

(topic, purpose, (topic, purpose, audience, genre)audience, genre)

Now What?Now What?

Once you know the kind of Once you know the kind of writing you need to do, who writing you need to do, who will read your writing, and what will read your writing, and what you will be writing about, you you will be writing about, you are ready to actually start are ready to actually start writing!writing!

There areThere are

basic steps when writingbasic steps when writing

The 5 Basic Steps of the The 5 Basic Steps of the Writing Process:Writing Process:

1.1. BrainstormingBrainstorming

2.2. OrganizingOrganizing

3.3. DraftingDrafting

4.4. ReviewingReviewing

5.5. PublishingPublishing

1) Brainstorming1) BrainstormingWrite down every idea that is related to Write down every idea that is related to

your topic/purpose/audience/genre; your topic/purpose/audience/genre; don’t worry about putting things in don’t worry about putting things in

order.order.You may need to do some You may need to do some

RESEARCH to gather information and RESEARCH to gather information and ideasideas

You may want to use a GRAPHIC You may want to use a GRAPHIC ORGANIZERORGANIZER

Brainstorming = Brainstorming =

Writing EVERYTHING Writing EVERYTHING

2) Organizing2) Organizing

Once you’ve spent a few minutes Once you’ve spent a few minutes writing down topic-related ideas, writing down topic-related ideas, you need to choose the best you need to choose the best ideas and put them in some kind ideas and put them in some kind of order.of order.

An OUTLINE can be An OUTLINE can be extremelyextremely useful at this point.useful at this point.

Organizing = Organizing =

Choosing your best Choosing your best IDEASIDEAS

3) Drafting3) DraftingWhen you draft, you’re writing down When you draft, you’re writing down

ANY ideas that come to youANY ideas that come to youUse your organized brainstorm to Use your organized brainstorm to

help guide your thoughts.help guide your thoughts.Write QUICKLY – Don’t stop! Keep Write QUICKLY – Don’t stop! Keep

the flow going! Don’t worry about the flow going! Don’t worry about mechanics or conventions at this mechanics or conventions at this point, just get the ideas downpoint, just get the ideas down

Drafting = Writing Drafting = Writing (quickly!)(quickly!)

4) Reviewing4) Reviewing After each draft, the writer needs After each draft, the writer needs

to review the draft for errors. to review the draft for errors. There are two separate but There are two separate but

equally important ways to review equally important ways to review that should be done that should be done independently from each other:independently from each other:

A.A. EditingEditing

B.B. RevisingRevising

4A) Editing4A) EditingChecking the Checking the mechanicsmechanics of your of your

writing. Things to look for:writing. Things to look for:Complete sentencesComplete sentences

SpellingSpellingCapitalizationCapitalizationPunctuationPunctuation

EDITINGEDITING TRICKTRICK

Edit sentence by sentence, Edit sentence by sentence, but work BACKWARDS but work BACKWARDS through your piece. This will through your piece. This will help you notice mistakes your help you notice mistakes your brain automatically fills in for brain automatically fills in for you when you read forward.you when you read forward.

Editing = Editing =

Repairing broken Repairing broken rulesrules

4B) Revising4B) RevisingLooking over the Looking over the ideasideas you’ve you’ve

written. It includes checking for:written. It includes checking for:

•Flow•Order•Details•Clarity

•Enough information•Too much information•Too many words

Revising = Revising =

Fixing Ideas Fixing Ideas and Flowand Flow

Reviewing Trick #1Reviewing Trick #1

EditEdit your work BEFORE you try your work BEFORE you try to to reviserevise your work. your work.

If you try to revise first, you will If you try to revise first, you will keep getting distracted by keep getting distracted by mechanical errors (misspelled mechanical errors (misspelled words, incorrect punctuation, words, incorrect punctuation, etc.), and you won’t be able to etc.), and you won’t be able to concentrate on the FLOW.concentrate on the FLOW.

REVIEWING TRICK #2:REVIEWING TRICK #2:

Read your writing OUT LOUD Read your writing OUT LOUD to someone else. Humans to someone else. Humans often hear mistakes more often hear mistakes more readily than they will see readily than they will see

mistakes. This can help with mistakes. This can help with both revising your ideas and both revising your ideas and

editing your errorsediting your errors

Do the Time-Warp!Do the Time-Warp!

Once you have reviewed your draft, re-Once you have reviewed your draft, re-draft (re-write your piece, fixing mistakes draft (re-write your piece, fixing mistakes and improving flow).and improving flow).

After you have re-drafted, re-review your After you have re-drafted, re-review your work.work.

Do this at least twice for every piece of Do this at least twice for every piece of writing – at least 2 drafts, at least 2 writing – at least 2 drafts, at least 2 reviews.reviews.

5) Publishing5) PublishingProfessional writers say they never Professional writers say they never

finish a piece; they just run out of finish a piece; they just run out of time. time.

When you have reviewed your work When you have reviewed your work at least twice, it’s time to think at least twice, it’s time to think about turning in your work. about turning in your work.

Create a clean copyCreate a clean copySubmitSubmit

Publishing = Publishing = Turning It InTurning It In

Good luck with Good luck with your writing!your writing!