Develop A Writing Process That Works For You

You need a way to construct your writing. With a writing process, you don’t get stuck. You build your writing brick by brick, tile by tile. Here’s a process which works for almost any piece of writing:
=> 1. What’s the task?
Ask yourself what you want your writing to do.
Then create a working title which defines the job: “A Summary Of Three Popular Diets”; “A Sales Flyer For Smother’s Garden Center For A One-Day Sale”; “A Whodunit Featuring An Aboriginal Detective”.
=> 2. Create the framework
All writing needs structure, and you must put the structure in place before you begin your first draft. This doesn’t mean that you can’t free-write, and pre-write. But once you start the major work, you work to a structure.
The easiest way to do this is to look at your working title, and make a list of points and ideas. For example, for “A Summary Of Three Popular Diets”, you could list three major headings: (1) high protein (2) low-fat (3) calorie-counting. Then list sub-headings under these initial headings.
If you’re creating the framework for a novel: “A Whodunit Featuring An Aboriginal Detective”, you could list headings too. They might include: (1) the crime (2) the detective/ main character (3) conflict (4) red herrings (5) suspects.
Your framework gives you a map for the writing.
Each piece of writing must be logical. Your reader will be asking: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Answer the questions.
=> 3. Write right now, research later
Write first, as soon as you’ve completed a framework. You can research later. It’s vital that you get your basic draft on paper first, otherwise you’ll get lost in the byways of research. Once you have a basic draft, you’ll know what information you’re looking for when you research.
=> 4. Write (an) introduction
Write your intro when you’ve completed the first draft. Your intro is your hook, and you may change it half a dozen times before you complete your article/ book.
Many embryo novelists struggle with the first chapter. They rewrite Chapter One until all the juice is wrung out of the story idea, and never get beyond chapter three.
Don’t worry about the introduction, whether it’s a couple of paragraphs or an entire chapter. You’ll rarely use it, it’s simply a way for you to get comfortable with the voice and the tone of the piece of writing. Think of it as clearing your throat before you speak.
=> 5. What’s the takeaway for the reader?
What will your reader get out of what you’re writing? Information? Entertainment?
Once you’ve worked out what the takeaway is, highlight it. Add more conflict and excitement (or romance or humor) to your novel. Make a list of “how to” items for your article.
Editors buy because of the takeaway.
=> 6. Cut
Cut your work by 50 per cent.
Yes, you heard right. Cut by HALF. This is because your work contains fluff and filler, like adverbs and adjectives.
You won’t see where you can cut until you’ve removed yourself from the writing. So leave it for at least a day, preferably a week, or in the case of a novel, at least a month.
After you’ve slashed and burned, you can revise and rewrite.
=> 7. Have you covered everything?
This is where you ask yourself questions about the writing, trying to approach it the way a reader would.
Fill in any missing bits. You will want to fact-check here. Check names and dates.
=> 8. The final polish
This is where you can pretty it up. Focus on style. Use a dictionary. Work on the title.
There you have it, a writing process that works. To get the process to work for YOU, tinker with it. You’ll develop your own process over time. Have fun with it.