The Writing Process

Note: Always read your assignments carefully and defer to your instructors’ guidelines. A printable version of this information is available here.

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What is the writing process?

The writing process consists of three stages: 

• Prewriting is everything that takes place before you create a first draft. During this stage, you should think about the paper’s subject and audience and gather your ideas and/or research. 
• Writing is when you produce a draft of the paper. While this can be the most daunting part of the process, spending more quality time prewriting can help you save time and avoid frustration. 
• Rewriting is the time you spend improving the draft of a paper. During this stage, you may conduct more research, rewrite parts of the paper, reorganize information, and conduct line-by-line editing. Although editing for mechanical errors is a part of rewriting, larger changes – developing ideas, adding more research, adding transitions, organizing the paper more effectively – should come first. 

Why consider writing as a process, not a product? 

Writing is a highly intellectual process that takes time and effort, so actively engaging in the process can improve not only your papers but also, more importantly, your writing skills. Participation in the writing process helps you think more critically about your work and how you are making meaning. It helps you reflect on your choices and how effective those choices are for your paper’s purpose and audience.