Overview

Although writers can have different work habits and methods, most writers go through the same five stages of the writing process.

The first stage is prewriting. During this stage, a writer selects a topic and then narrows its focus, according to the audience and the purpose of the writing.

The second stage is drafting. Using prewriting notes, a writer begins drafting paragraphs. While drafting, a good writer strives to write unified paragraphs: each one organized around one main idea, stated in the topic sentence. All the details (such as sensory impressions, examples, and facts) should support the main idea.

The third stage of the writing process is revising. A writer revises by reading through a draft to make sure that it is clear and by changing text and reordering information to improve readability.

The fourth stage is editing/proofreading, which involves checking for errors in grammar, word usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.

Publishing/presenting, or sharing your work, is the fifth, and final, stage of the writing process. A writer's work may be published or presented for the school (for instance, in the school newspaper, as a drama, or in a classroom debate), the community (perhaps through a community newsletter or in a forum), or the open market (through a teen magazine, for example).