Buildings= blueprints, Cooking= recipes, Cartoons= sketches, before most things are constructed there is a preset model that must be followed in order to ensure the desired results. Writing is nothing like that. In the words of William Zinsser, “Writing is no respecter of blueprints- it’s too subjective a process, too full of surprises.” Whether the thesis is written first or the writer brainstorms with thought bubbles and flowcharts or free writes whatever ideas pour into their heads, every writer has a different process that works for them. It is amazing to know that one writer may brainstorm for hour upon hour writing, rewriting, revising and editing only to produce a paragraph worthy of reading. On the other hand someone else may only need half an hour to produce an entire first draft. There are many different techniques to the writing process but a good foundation always begins with prewriting and ends with revising.
What is your recipe for writing success?
I've noticed that my recipe changes a lot! A metaphor that works for me is have a toolbox with lots of different tools in it. Sometimes I use the "freewriting tool" sometimes I start with the listing tool or the mindmap tool...
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