The Most Important Rule Of Writing

The Most Important Rule Of Writing

I just finished a set of conferences with my students which inspired me to write about the most important rule of writing -- writing is a process.

So many of difficulties struggling writers face occur when they ignore this simple rule. Once you embrace the fact that writing is a process rather than an event, once you recognize that the more time you give the process to work the better, then not only will writing be easier you will also write better.

Writing is a process. While that process varies somewhat based on the task and the individual writer, the basic steps it includes are the same no matter what.

First is the initial brainstorming process. No actual writing takes place in this step although there may be some note taking or non-stop writing exercises. The more time you give yourself for this process then the easier the next step will be. Experiment with various forms of brainstorming and prewriting to determine which works best for you and your various writing tasks. What may work in one type of writing may not work as well with another. The more you experiment then the more likely you will find the optimum brainstorming process for you.

Second is the drafting process. That first rough draft should be a quick and painless draft. Your main goal at this point is simply to capture the fruits of your brainstorming in one document. Just write until you have tapped your brain. Do not hold yourself back by rewriting, revising, or editing. Do not pause to worry about spelling, grammar, punctuation, or word choice. If you are conscious that you will need to fill in gaps then simply hit return twice (my usual technique) or write in all caps MORE LATER then move on. The important goal at this point is simply to capture your ideas in one place as quickly as possible. It does not have to be pretty and likely it will not be pretty, but it will be done.

Third is the revision process. This should take more than one draft to accomplish. Again, do not spend time worrying about spelling, grammar, punctuation, revising or editing. Fix the obvious errors that are distracting to you as you rework but that is not your main goal. Your main goal with this part of the process is to look at the big picture. Is your thesis clear and well supported? Are your ideas well organized and fully developed? Are there any gaps in the writing or logic? Do your ideas transition well from one to another?

Fourth is the editing process. Now is the time to worry about spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word choice. Zoom in your focus from the big picture to the sentence and paragraph level. This effort may take one or more drafts to polish your writing to the desired level.

If you are creating a more in-depth project then you may also need to add a step between brainstorming and drafting that includes research and organization which would make the writing process include five steps.

The most important part of creating your own individual writing process is to let it evolve as your skill grows. The more you refine and polish your process then the better the work you produce. The key to developing a successful writing process it to give yourself time -- time to let your process evolve and time to let your writing develop. This means not to rush the development of your writing process. Let it evolve over many different projects. This also means not to rush your actual writing. Allow days to pass between various stages and drafts. The more time you allow to pass then the more work your subconscious will do for you and the fresher eyes you will be able to bring to the project.

I promise that if you remember the most important rule of writing then you will improve as a writer. Developing your own individual creative process and giving it time to work will make you a better writer.

BONUS : The Movie Review Of Arrested Development Season 3

Directed by Paul Feig, John Fortenberry, Robert Berlinger and produced by Chuck Williams, it stars Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, Michael Cera, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Jessica Walter, Jeffrey Tambor, David Cross.

Screenwriter: Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, Richard Day, Sam Laybourne, Jake Farrow, Karey Dornetto, Chuck Tatham

It is no surprise that Arrested Development was a big hit as a magnificent sitcom . What is surprising is the abrupt end to all the fun and wit of screen writer Mitch Hurwitz. What seemed like a brilliant pick-up at the end of the second season, really ends in a whimper with the third. For one, Season 3 has only 13 episodes, instead of the usual 22 and there is no Season 4.

There is of course no dearth of good fun and laughter in those 13 episodes. The story line meanders through various hilarious situations in the once-upon-a-time rich but currently morally depleted Bluth family, which follows its leader, the good son Michael (Jason Bateman). In the Season 3, misty eyed Michael finds his soul mate in Rita (guest star Charlize Theron), an attractive woman holding a secret up her sleeves. As you go on watching it, you might just guess the secret and the dramatic revelation but the hilariously obvious clues will have you in splits.

According to http://FilmCritic.com's Jesse Hassenger “Arrested Development is probably the most densely self-referential sitcom ever, but not in the sense that it goes for self-mocking meta-jokes like The Simpsons (though there are some of those too, especially in "S.O.B.," where Michael tries to enlist help to "save" the floundering Bluths, hoping that maybe the "Home Builders Organization" – HBO – will come to the rescue).”

One of the most relieving part of Season 3 is that none of the jokes, motifs are repeated – it is simply improved and by-passes the rest of the show in excellence.

In short, Arrested Development grows on you. Its end arrests everything. Here is what http://FilmCritic.com had to say “ everyone on this show is so damn good. That includes the writers, who, during the show’s run, had a virtual monopoly on verbal wit in TV comedy, and directors like Paul Feig (Freaks and Geeks) mixing a fast pace with a deadpan documentary style.”

FilmCritic.com review published with permission.