Overview of writing process

by Mary EbejerMaster of Education CandidateGrand Valley State University

Overview of the Writing Process

First, Please Jot Down …

Three Words

Two Questions

And Draw One Picture

… about “Writing”

When I have to write something …

… I say, “Lucky me! I get to write!” then get started right away.

… I’m overcome with anxietythat doesn’t leave until the writing is done!

… I wait until the last minute because I work better under pressure.

Question …

What’s the difference between an accomplished writer and

a novice writer – besides the mastery of their

craft?

– Susan BellThe Artful Edit: On the Practice of Editing

Yourself

Confidence. – or at least the possibility of confidence.

The accomplished writer remembers

from previous experience that

whatever is

can be fixed – with enough time

and thoughtful feedback.

In other words, the first draft is never the final

draft …

And, just like an athlete …

… practice and thoughtful coaching

can make you a stronger, better writer.

So when you really need to sprint,

your writing “muscles” are trained

and ready to perform.

(Okay. Done with the sports analogies for now.)

Time to Vote!

I was practically born with a pencil in my hand.

I love, love, love to write!!

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

Reading is my thing.

I love, love, love to READ!!

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

Me? I was born with a CRAYON in my hand.

I would rather draw than read or write.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

When I was young, I learned to write from the BEST writing teacher ever.

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Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I thought I could write well … until I went to college. Wow, that was a rude awakening!

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Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I didn’t learn to write until I was in the professional world … it was sink or swim.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

Yeah, to be honest, I really never learned to write well.

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Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

*

Think and Share

Now, looking at the three words you have written down, what do you already know about writing?

What questions do you have about writing?

Group Share

Now share those pictures!

Time to Vote!

I am a writer.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

Some people have a knack for writing, while others will never learn to write well no matter how hard they try.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

*

Confidence

“How confident do you feel about writing?”

Confident Indifferent Undecided Anxious Lonely

32.2% 34.1% 19.5% 7.4% 6.6%

-- Miles McCrimmon, 2005

Nature vs. Nurture

“I believe some people just have a knack for writing.”

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

13.1% 33.6% 23.3% 5%


Those who do not believe in “the knack” tend to be more confident writers – 38.9% …

While of those who believe in “the knack”, fewer tend to be confident writers – 28.3%


Confidence Breeds Success

• Disbelief in “the knack” breeds confidence.

• Confidence breeds success.


Confidence is built on a sturdy foundation,

not just on a wish to be a better writer.

Time to Vote!

I make daily to-do lists, weekly grocery lists, and holiday shopping lists.

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Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I send text messages.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I send instant messages.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I tweet.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I’m on Facebook.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I hand-write notes (informal: Post-its® notes; formal: thank you notes).

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I send email.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I write letters to friends and family.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I write letters for personal and school administration.

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Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I write regularly in a journal.

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Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I blog.

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I write for fun (stories, poems, articles).

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Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

Time to Vote!

I write other things not mentioned.

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Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

*

Time to Vote!

Let’s try this again … I AM A WRITER!

1 2 3 45 6

Disagree - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agree

*

Three Modes of Writing

Personal

Informational

Poetic


Personal (or Expressive)

“Thinking on Paper” Journal writing, list making, note taking, jotting. Writing for yourself … no one will criticize or

judge. Feel free to experiment and find your voice. Loosens up your thinking and stir your

imagination. Connects ideas and problem solve. Helps you believe you are a writer.


Informational (or Transactional)

“Act on the World” Letters, essays, reports. Writing for an audience of “others”. They could judge or criticize. Traditionally used in school and at

work.


Poetic (or Imaginative)

“Creating Art” Poems, stories, plays. Usually writing for an audience. They could judge or criticize. Typically done in a creative writing class

or writer’s group.

Question: How does your feeling about a particular mode, context or purpose effect your writing approach?

For Example …

Are some kinds of writing “scarier” than others? Are some easier? Which and why?

Are you careful to use correct language and spelling with some, but correctness doesn’t really matter with others? How do you decide?

Ever tried …

Just relaxing and “talking” to the paper? Suspending the rules of “good” writing Trusting your ears for what “sounds”

right

… at least for your initial rough draft?

Good News:

You already know how to write. You do it all the time without even thinking.

Even Better News:

If you can speak English easily and well – no matter which vernacular or dialect – you can learn to write well with enough thoughtful reflection and practice.

Just use your mouth and ears to tap into your innate knowledge of language. You already know what “sounds” right.

StopListenReflect

Free-writing / Discovery DraftingTopic: “My Writing Biography”

Free-writing/Discovery Drafting – 15 minutes

Overview of the Writing Process

It Actually Looks More Like This!

Step 1: Pre-writing Organize Thoughts to Find Out What You Really

Know –And Don’t Yet Know – About Your Topic

“Brain dump” that helps you decide what to write. Chance to explore wide ranging scope of ideas. Opportunity to consider what audience needs/wants

to hear. List places where you can research information. Sets you up to do meaningful/productive research. Calisthenics to exercise your “writing muscle”.

What does your pre-writing process look like?

Pre-writing Strategies• Free-writing • Brainstorming• Clustering • Venn Diagram• Journalistic Technique

Pre-writing StrategiesFree-writing

Jotting down any and all thoughts you have abouta particular topic beforeresearching.

Pre-writing Strategies

Brainstorming

Listing all of the thoughts, ideas, and fragments in your head.

Pre-writing StrategiesClustering – Connecting sub-ideas to

main idea

Mapping connections between main idea and sub-ideas or related related issues.

Pre-writing StrategiesVenn Diagram

Organizing thoughts, ideas, and fragments by similarities and differences.

Pre-writing StrategiesJournalistic Technique – Answering 5Ws + H

• Who is involved in the conflict?• What issues are most clearly in dispute/divide the

parties?• When did the troubles start, and how have they

developed over time?• Where does the conflict seem most heated or

violent?• Why have those involved in the conflict found it so

difficult to resolve the situation?• How might this conflict be resolved?

Step 2: DraftingJust Get It On Paper

Put the information you researched into your own words.

Write sentences and paragraphs even if they are not perfect. “For your eyes only.”

Read what you have written and decide if it says what you mean and what you want it to say.“Say what you mean, mean what you say.”

Show to trusted others and ask for comments/suggestions.

Not your final draft.

What does your drafting process look like?

Share Free-writing

Topic: “My Writing Biography”

Share with a partner and discuss.

– or –

Read your own over again.

– 10 minutes

Step 3: RevisingA Closer Look

Read what you have written again.Think about what others said about it.Rearrange words or sentences.Take out or add parts.Replace overused or unclear words.Read your writing aloud to be sure it flows

smoothly.

How much time do you spend on revising?

Step 3: Revising

A Baker’s Dozen of Fat-Cutting Revision Strategies

– National Writing Project, nwp.org

http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/756

Revise Free-writing

Topic: “My Writing Biography”

Take a second look and make changes.

– 10 Minutes

Step 4: ProofreadingNow Read for Detail

Be sure all sentences are complete.Correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.Change words that are not used correctly.Then ask someone else to read and provide

meaningful, productive feedback.Decide what to accept and what to politely decline.

Hint: Correct substantive changes, such as factual errors, unclear or confusing communication, punctuation and spelling errors. Evaluate subjective changes related to personal style.

Step 5: PublishingSharing the Finished ProductSend on to requesting/appropriate

individual(s). Read aloud to a group.Create a book of your work.Send a copy to a friend or relative.Put your writing on display. Illustrate, perform, or set your creation to

music.Congratulate yourself on a job well done!

Writer’s Block?

• Talk to yourself … or someone else• Read something related … or unrelated• Write something related … or unrelated• Change your environment … add music … change

chair• Get physical … for a walk … Dance! Dance! Dance!• Surf the web (but can be dangerous!)• Eat• Laugh

What do you do when you get stuck?

ProcrastinationMake writing schedule that “chunks” your work into small

steps. Create early deadlines and write in your planner.Write at your best time of day (early morning, late at night).Show up! Sit at your desk or table and at least plan to write.Set timer for 15 mins. Finish a step or part of a step in that

time.Do the hard parts first – or the easiest first for a quick “win”.Give yourself rewards for completing parts of assignment.Schedule writing before easy activities (errands, friends).Find a writing partner. Hold each other accountable.

How do you prevent or cure procrastination?

Free-write for 10 minutes a day to keep your writing muscles limber and strong.

Always stop, listen, and reflect before you hit “send”.

Homework