WRITING A DRAFT

Writing is a process that involves several

distinct steps: prewriting, drafting, revising,
editing, and publishing. It is important for a
writer to work through each of the steps in
order to ensure that he has produced a
polished, complete piece. The writing process
is not always linear. A writer may move back
and forth between steps as needed. For
example, while you are revising, you might
have to return to the prewriting step to
develop and expand your ideas.
Although prewriting is the first activity you engage
in, generating ideas is an activity that occurs
throughout the writing process. During prewriting,
the writer will choose a manageable topic, identify
the purpose and audience, draft a sentence that
expresses the main idea of the piece, gather
information about the topic, and begin to organize
the information. Examples of prewriting include
brainstorming, free writing, and questioning.
Many people find it helpful to use a shape planner
or graphic organizer to organize their thoughts
during the prewriting process.
Drafting
The second step of the writing process involves
drafting. During drafting, the writer puts his/her ideas
into complete thoughts, such as sentences and
paragraphs. The writer organizes his/her ideas in a
way that allows the reader to understand his
message. She/he does this by focusing on which ideas
or topics to include in the piece of writing. During
drafting, the writer will compose an introduction to
the piece and develop a conclusion for the material.
At the end of this step of the writing process, the
author will have completed a “rough draft.”
Drafting—The Process
The process of drafting a piece of
writing begins with an analysis of the
prewriting. The author must use
his/her prewriting notes to determine
the focus of the piece. This may
involve narrowing the focus of the
topic and perhaps identifying a
purpose for the piece.
What is a First Draft?
A first draft is a preliminary
version of a piece of writing.
During the first draft, the author
attempts to develop the main
characters and flesh out the plot
ideas of his/her work, uncovering
his/her overarching themes in the
process.
Tips in Writing a First Draft
Before you start your piece, you
should have a plan on how you’re
going to finish your first draft. Once
you’ve done the necessary
brainstorming, prewriting, and
outlining, here are some tips to
follow to ensure the process of
writing your first draft:
1.Set aside daily writing time. Staring at
a blank page can be daunting, that is why it’s
essential to stay disciplined during the writing
process. It is important to establish good
writing habits as you work on your rough
draft. Find a calm, distraction-free writing
space for your writing sessions. If you’re
experiencing writer’s block, keep writing. Use
your pre-allotted writing time for free writing
or writing exercises. The drafting stage takes
a lot of time and hard work, that is why it’s
crucial to develop a consistent routine.
2. Make a schedule for yourself.
It is helpful to set realistic deadlines for
yourself. What you do with this time
likely depends on what kind of writer
you are. Conduct basic research. If
you’re writing something that takes
place in a specific location or time
period, you’ll likely need to conduct
some basic research so that your work
is accurate and credible.
3. Write out of order. If you find
yourself getting stuck on a certain section
of your draft, put it aside and jump to a
new section. If you’re struggling with
your introductory paragraph or topic
sentences, jump to the body of your essay
and chip away at some of your body
paragraphs. Oftentimes, this process can
help you refine and clarify your thesis
statement, as you discover new pieces of
information and argumentative pathways
by working ahead.
4. Allow imperfections. Perfectionism is the
enemy of a first draft. If you’re constantly rewriting
the same paragraph over and over again, trying to
make it as perfect as possible, you’ll never finish your
draft. As you write, you’ll likely notice that your draft
is full of typos and poor word choice. At this stage,
that’s not a bad thing—you’ll have plenty of time to
clean up your work during the editing process. Focus
on the big picture elements of your draft, like a strong
point of view and making sure your character’s
motivation makes sense. Make sure you have plenty
of time to refine the small stuff in your second draft
and third draft.