The Writing Process

Step by Step

• I'd be lying if I said it was easy
• There are many steps
• But take it one step at a time.

Step 1: Deciding

• Pick a topic
• Start broad, then narrow down
• Pick something interesting to you
• It will be with you for the next month and a half
• You'll be working on it for hours every weekend

Step 2: Planning

• Dissect your topic: pull it apart
• What can you get from it?
• What do you want to delve into?
• basically, what's important to you?

Step 3: Organizing

• This carries through the entire project and is the most important step
• Have everyting together!
• write Everything down!
• No fact gets left behind!

step 4: Drafting

• Write something down
• it Doesn't matter how crappy it is
• It's something; you'll thank yourself come final draft time
• leave notes for yourself to look back on later

step 5: break time!

• Set the whole thing aside, give your mind a break
• you'll want to look at it with new eyes later
• treat yourself; play a game, have a snack, take a nap, anything that helps

step 6: Editing

• The worst step ever, I promise
• Read it over; now again; now again; again; again (etc. etc.)
• Don't stop until you hate it with every fiber of your being
• (It won't take long) Then edit some more

Step 7: Citation check

• do a final check
• citations are serious business
• messing them up can get you in legal trouble
• and kicked out of college
• it is the last thing you want to slack off on

step 8: victory!

• you've done it!
• now you can give it to your teacher and be rid of it!
• Time to take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back