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The Writing Process

Writing is a process composed of five major stages. It is a process in which the writer moves back and forth through the various stages. Following are the stages of the writing process, along with possible activities in which the writer may engage.

Stages

Possible Activities

Prewriting

· finding activities

· selecting a topic

· identifying a purpose

· brainstorming

· researching

· clarifying

· focusing on a topic

· clustering

· analyzing

· organizing

· interviewing

· writing outlines

· writing leads

· illustrating

· freewriting

Drafting

· writing

· thinking

· rearranging

· elaborating

· alternating between writing and reading

· pausing

· planning

Revising

· polishing

· rethinking

· rearranging

· clarifying

· rewriting

· more researching

· critiquing

Editing

· proofreading

· final polishing

· correcting mechanics

Publishing

Submitting to publishers