All writing, whether it is creative or academic, is challenging. To complete a project, one can follow the five steps of the writing process. The first stage is prewriting – all authors have to pick a particular topic about which they are going to write. If the project is academic, this step refers to the research that one will conduct. If the writing is creative, prewriting can be used to gather interesting ideas, premises, scenarios, and genres.
The second step is outlining a structure of ideas, during which the concepts and themes gathered in prewriting are organized. Here, the writer may add some details that connect the central ideas or think about the segments of the text – the beginning, the main part, and the ending. The created outline is a foundation of the final text, and it will determine the flow of the project.
After organizing the ideas, the writer can start writing a rough draft. The first draft follows the developed plan, combining the ideas gathered in the first and second steps. As a result, the author will get a version of the text that encompasses the concepts and has a solid structure but does not fully account for minor details. The first draft differs from a simple outline in that its contents are presented according to the type of the project – essay, research paper, book chapter, or report.
Next, the draft is revised as many times as necessary to address the issues or reshape its contents. The writer can add, move, or take out words, sentences, and paragraphs. In this step, it is critical to evaluate whether all information is covered and explained. If the content of the paper needs to be reorganized, expanded upon, or reworded, revision is necessary.
Finally, the writer looks at the draft to see if any additional changes are needed. While revising is needed for content, editing’s purpose is to review the style, grammar, spelling, and other structural details. The writer can improve the working of sentences, use synonyms, and replace phrases according to the style of the project. When the fifth step is complete, the work can be considered finished.