“Writing is like driving at night. You can see only as far as the headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
― E.L. Doctorow
My writing process is similar to the general writing process. I approach each work differently because none of them are the same. Sometimes I get ideas for a concept, character, or setting and form stories around those vague notes. Frequently I scrap those stories and start over or, amidst my thinking, create new ideas. Other times I have a plan for a story but need details and characters; this is a rare case for my writing process but ultimately more successful. My writing process is never the same for each work or assignment, but it has been successful in the past.
In the “What is the Writing Process” video, the general writing process was stated to be “invention, planning, drafting, revising, and editing.” In my writing process, the sequence of those steps is slightly different. When I feel inspired to write about something, it is usually about a feeling; I could categorize that step as the invention. I then start writing about how that feeling is interpreted and who may experience it; this step can be categorized as drafting. Next, I think of people who could be affected by or sense this feeling; this step could be called planning. Then I start editing my draft and inserting characters or other ideas; this step is revising. Lastly, I piece all my thoughts together and rewrite the story; this is editing. My process is analogous to the general writing process but in a slightly different sequence of steps.
My process may seem counterproductive, but my thoughts and ideas do not flood in at the beginning of my writing process. I jump into the process because that is what opens my brains to new ideas or concepts. This process has ultimately been rewarding to my writing, but as expected, I have encountered issues. With my lack of planning at the beginning of the process, I often have to scrap large chunks of my story because it doesn’t make sense with new ideas. Amidst my struggles, I try to proceed without losing confidence. It is never easy to remain confident when you encounter setbacks but learning from your mistakes will improve your writing skills. When writing a story, the process will never be perfect, so when experiencing a complication, the most crucial step is persevering.
As I progress in this course, I hope to improve my writing process so obstacles will not be as recurrent. If I start my process by planning and creating a strategic outline, I am more likely to reduce dead ends. Similar to the topic in journal three, organizing your thoughts can be the key to accomplishing this task. If I use metacognition to understand my thoughts before I start writing them down, I will have a clear idea of what I am trying to say. Often, I give myself a false sense of understanding because I am providing detail when I create a story. Understanding goes further than just detail; it is a thorough realization of what every thought means.
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