The Writing Process
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Discovering My Unique Writing Process: Embracing the Journey from Childhood to Teaching
When I was 10 years old, I first realized my passion for writing. It all began with a short story that I meticulously hand-copied onto baseline ruled paper—the kind that helps small children make their letters even and straight. I felt a sense of accomplishment and excitement as I made ten more handwritten copies and distributed them to my friends. However, their feedback was lukewarm or non-existent. At the time, I thought maybe it was because they didn’t share my love for reading. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t deterred. I continued writing but kept my work mostly to myself.
The Awakening of a Writer
Fast forward to my adult years. After earning an MFA in Creative Writing, I decided to pursue a teaching degree in literature. It wasn’t until a summer course on teaching writing in Secondary Education that I was asked about my writing process for the first time. Surprisingly, throughout six years of college, including my MFA classes, no one had ever posed that question to me. I had read numerous books on how to write—make an outline, do research, draft, edit, and then finalize. But for me, that method never quite fit.
My Unique Writing Process
Here’s how my actual process looked:
- Ruminating and Percolating: I would mull over ideas and let them percolate in my mind. Writing a few lines, ideas, but not doing any outlining.
- Researching: For fiction and essays, I would research and collect as many perspectives as I could find, having a ddocument file for that information. take notes. Then, more ruminating and percolating followed.
- Storytelling in My Head: I would mentally narrate them countless times. Sometimes jotting down a good piece. I often find myself dreaming about it and waking up and needing to write down what I had dreamed. Often, one to two days before the deadline, I would have nothing written.
- Frantic Typing: I would then spend all my free time frantically typing, editing, and retyping from start to finish. Sleeping on it, dreaming and using what I had dreamed. This cycle would continue until the deadline.
I often felt guilty for not adhering to the traditional guidelines for “How to Write a Good Story or Paper.” I chastised myself for procrastinating and imagined I could have achieved an A+ if only I had followed the prescribed method.
The Big "Ah-Ha" Moment
The true revelation came when I wrote an essay about my writing process while studying for my teaching degree. I realized that my process was uniquely mine and bore little resemblance to the conventional “writing formula.” I needed ample “percolation” time for my thoughts to mature. Once they did, writing became a natural and meaningful flow. Outlining and drafting didn’t work for me because my brain processed information differently. I wasn’t a procrastinator, which is what I had labeled myself; instead, I was constantly working on the piece in my head, allowing it to gestate before committing words to paper.
Embracing My Process and Teaching Others
This realization lifted a tremendous weight off my shoulders. I went on to teach reading, writing, and grammar, primarily at the college level. The curriculum required first, second, and final drafts, each graded separately. I recognized that some of my students had writing processes similar to mine, and the rigid schedule didn’t work for them either.
I aimed to make writing fair and enjoyable for all students, encouraging them to understand and embrace their unique writing processes. Writing, after all, is about communication. Each person must discover their own way of expressing ideas and stay true to themselves in both their process and their final message.
Conclusion: Writing with Freedom and Joy
Once I accepted my writing process as the right way for me, my writing improved, and my stress levels decreased significantly. Embracing my unique process allowed me to write with freedom and joy. Writing is a deeply personal journey, and understanding and honoring your own process is key to finding success and satisfaction in your work.
If you're a budding writer struggling with traditional methods, remember: your process is valid. Give yourself the grace to find what works best for you. Happy writing!
For more insights and tips on writing and creativity, visit my website at Sandra Jeffs.com.
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