Introduction to Composing as a Process: Writing is a repeating cycle of exploring, planning, drafting, and revising, and it’s about the process of the writing piece, not the finished piece. In order to become a better writer and create better products, we must practice the skills necessary. According to research, it has been shown that writing “helps us discover and reach new ideas during the act of writing itself.”
Shitty First Drafts: When writing and formal writing piece, it is best, if not a must, to have three stages: the first draft of just getting everything down on paper, the second draft to edit what doesn’t belong or what needs to be added, and the third or final draft to touch up and make it the best writing piece it can be. Regardless of what the writing piece is, it is crucial to use the first draft to get every thought down first, whether it sounds good or not, important or not, just get it down. I absolutely love that I’m being told by writing individual that getting it all down first is very important. I’ve had so many experiences where I had a great idea pop into my head but didn’t write it down yet because it didn’t quite belong in the spot I was on, but then would forget the idea before I can get it on the paper.
Freewriting: Freewriting is a very helpful way to practice writing down anything and everything pertaining to the writing topic even remotely. It encourages muting and ignoring the voice of reason in your head that is trying to make the first draft the perfect draft. Over time, regular freewriting exercises will stop the writer from the bad habit of refraining to put down a thought just because it isn’t 100% perfect, whether because it’s not in the right spot, or sound the right way or conveying the right information. Don’t try to create and edit at the same time, create THEN edit. I’ve always been told that daily freewriting will make someone a better writer but was never explained how or why; now I completely understand.
Putting it all together, to become a better writer and to create the best writing pieces one can make the first draft a shitty one just to get every idea out there. Meanwhile, don’t let anything stop you from writing an idea down because that voice in your head that’s saying “no, don’t write that” comes in later on to edit the second draft. Don’t create and edit at the same time, create then edit, that’s what the second draft is for.