What is your writing process?

Us poor writers! Such a rewarding yet agonising job. A completed article – evidence that our compulsion is worth it.

Do you have those days where turning the computer on, to do some work feels unbearable; even unnatural?

Or getting out of bed to finish a document makes you wish some illness had come over you in the night so you had a valid excuse to avoid word central.

Writing got a little easier once I realised I have a method in my madness. It was like building blocks – stacked upon one another; constructing a rather smooth process to get to a completed document.

Once this light bulb moment awakened me to my own procedure, the struggle became tolerable. I began to see writing as a creative process – possibly a gift, requiring continued patience and practice, in order to be able to call it my craft. So I had no choice but to label my steps.

Writing Stage one (The Mind Spit)

A blank sheet of paper is quickly turned into a chaotic mess of ideas. A word written over in a corner, a rant scribbled at the bottom and a collection of brain storming ideas sitting in the centre of the page.

I enthusiastically put forth all knowledge acquired on the chosen subject matter. A list of questions to research, in no ordered sequence whatsoever.

I compare this to the beginning of a relationship. Everything is new and awakened and the longer you spend time together, the more you discover about each other.

Writing Stage two (The Administration)

Its copy typing time. Transferring the mind spit onto the computer. This task has the propensity of being either boring or therapeutic; depending on my perspective at the time. However it is a necessary phase of my own writing process.

Each idea far too valuable to reject at this stage. I can’t let go of any sentence even if it was written only to fill in time. I am holding on tight. This is like the commitment stage of the relationship, confirming status and working out what the rules to exclusive mean.

Writing Stage three (Dress ups)

Structure is beginning to take place. I am questioning which direction would best suit my new project.

This is like matching an outfit with shoes and a handbag. Cutting and pasting words and sentences looking for the right fit.

One sentence belongs to a certain group of ideas, but it can also be placed in other areas. Another sentence reads and sounds out of place.

I am still greedily holding onto all words.

Writing Stage four (Serious)

A steady flow beings to shape a well worked document. I am repeatedly reading from top to bottom.

I would be looked upon as a stalker if I strolled past someone with the amount of times I wander back and forth past my own sentences.

Writing Stage five (Attached)

I have become familiar with the article from start to finish. If I need a particular paragraph I know exactly where to go.

It is almost done. Relationship status update – comfortable and steady.

Writing Stage six (Neglect)

This is where I leave the write-up alone for a couple of weeks. I turn my back on it. I pay no attention to it at all.

My aim is to create some distance between me and my words. It’s comparable to a relationship that has taken a turn for the worst; and one of the partners needs some space to think things over.

It is at this stage I am blinded, too close, I cannot see the error of my ways. The flow sounds smooth with every word grouped to form a sentence. Every sentence forming a paragraph.

Writing Stage seven (Finality)

After several weeks on a breather, I review my document with renewed interest and attention. It is only at this point I be able to see where corrections are required.

The shutters have opened and my vision is clear. It’s a critical review. I become the hardened task master. Questioning every letter, word, sentence and paragraph. Reading aloud.

Writing Stage eight (It’s over)

My attraction is on a down-hill roll. I am coming to the end of the relationship with my document. I can’t bear to look at it. I have read it over and over. Corrected every mistake, dotted every “I” and crossed ever “T” (okay the computer does that) nonetheless it is a well-read document.

It takes all my effort to remain focused. The document is now ready for public viewing, sharing and commenting.

One stage runs into another and nothing is set in concrete. Although this basic formula guides me when I am feeling a little overwhelmed by writing, or daunted by the workload. If all I have to do is attend to a stage – I have minimised where my brain must focus for a period of time.

So what is it you enjoy about writing? What is in your bag of tricks to get you to open that computer and begin to get your creative juices flowing?