5 Steps of Writing process

As a student, it’s important to know how to write. It is all about the craft in order to create something meaningful and interesting.

For any person who wants to become an author, there are some things that you need to consider first. You should know your topic to be able to create good pieces. Also, you need to find out what kind of reader you are to be able to sell your work. In this article, we will cover five steps to writing.

Step 1: Think it through

When the idea comes to writing, try to think it yourself to avoid errors, confusion, and disappointment. By doing so, you can have better control over your work.

Keep brainstorming ideas until you come up with one that sounds the most right. If you want to make a more creative piece, start by finding a problem that may occur within the story. For example, could you replace the character “Ruth” with another person? It would not give more impact, but it would allow for many other possibilities rather than just focusing on the main character Ruth. Try to make that character as close to yours as possible. Even though I believe that there is more to her story, she is still the protagonist of the story and even if you changed her name, it should still feel like Ruth to the readers of the book.

Step 2: Do Research

Before starting to write, do a lot of research to get clear on what your main character wants and how they might be affected by this change. This makes sense when you're crafting new chapters. The goal and purpose of the story is to help the audience understand the characters as people who lived their lives without knowing that they were actually living through events from their past. When you start researching the plot of Ruth’s life as a teenager and see how much the event impacted her, then you’re ready to write on top of that to tell the story of Ruth as a woman who was struggling with depression and anxiety.

If you take your time to research well-crafted fiction, the story will develop into the next chapter the story. So, don't waste this chance. Focus on your story to develop into the beginning of the same thing that happened in Ruth's life.

Step 3: Create your Outline

When writing, the outline has the best chance to bring more meaning to the story. What does your future novel look like? How does it develop from one character to another? A rough concept is necessary to stay focused in the end of the novel. It’s going to take time to find your own perfect way to structure everything into a coherent whole. Having a rough plan in mind will also help guide you as you move forward. Your outline will help make sure all of your parts connect back together. Don’t force your ideas down onto the paper at once. Break them in several parts till they form a bigger idea. Use two separate lines of text in the background and have one main paragraph inside each line. These are called sub-parts. There could be three sub-parts or four. Keep it simple enough, keeping the outline realistic will do the best. No matter how big your title, stick to what you think is right for the story. Make sure to include the main character’s point of view. They will be the one who needs to be shown.

Step 4: Research and Analyze

Before you write anything, do extensive research on the subject that you're trying to write about. Then, try to figure out the reasons why the character is going through a hard time, like in Ruth's case. We want to tell someone about life in our world today. But there's always a reason why we can't go back to the old times. The character might need a change because he or she is experiencing a tragedy in their life. Maybe they have a brother who has left and now they're stuck in the same circumstances. Or, maybe they have family members who are suffering like Ruth did because of mental illnesses. To better understand the story, it's worth reading books that represent the emotions and struggles of everyday life. Another source of information you should use is movies that show different situations. Take advantage of the opportunity to watch a few scenes of the movie and see if you can imagine how you would react if an actor acted them out in front of you. Then, analyze what you can learn from those examples. Write them down or draw up a sketch on paper. Get suggestions from others to fill in more details on your story. From personal experiences, it becomes easier for us to identify the characters' backgrounds.

Step 5: Have Fun with your Final Piece

When completing your work, you want to enjoy your work so stay happy. Keep your enthusiasm in your eyes throughout the story. Let whatever moods and emotions will inspire you. Some of my favorite quotes are:

“Writing is just another job, the writer should enjoy it as a leisure.” – Sylvia Plath

“You never really read any books until you have finished reading the last chapter.” – Stephen King

“Reading is boring me! I want to hear the words before my eyes. Reading is exciting me!” – Julia Roberts

“Writing is easy, but understanding is very difficult.” – James Patterson

“Writing is very therapeutic. It's not a therapy that will cure a patient." – Judy Blume

“Writing is lonely, but making a masterpiece of it makes it worthwhile.” – Hemingway

“Writing is therapeutic. I'm feeling good about what I've written. At least a little bit. Sometimes, your creativity makes you feel better after you put pen to paper.” – Neil Gaiman

“It takes a certain amount of bravery to stand up and face reality when you have nothing to fear.” – John Green

“I never thought I would get good at writing! Now I'm glad I have.” – Billy Bob Thornton

“I'm tired of being an attention seeker. My God, I love being busy. Every day brings a new blank page. And with every blank page, I think I have more chances of improving my skills. Then I think of myself as a better writer. That's what motivates me." - Billie Eilish

I hope I gave you a helpful reference on the topics of writing and it takes less effort to approach your work with confidence. Good luck with creating a great piece every single time!