Michael E. Adelstein's "The Writing Process"

"If these individuals could realize that they can learn to write ... and that they must focus on other aspects besides correctness, then they can overcome many obstacles confronting them."

Michael E. Adelstein's "The Writing Process" offers up a concise, step-by-step evaluation of what he considers to be the most important aspects of writing. Writing is often seen by students (and plenty of others) as a mysterious process, something that one person might possess and another not by virtue of some mystical birthright. Adelstein, however, provides a well-intentioned breakdown of what it takes to write in a formal setting, empowering us all to accomplish our goals when attempting to complete assignments.

Adelstein breaks down his formula right at the beginning and spends the rest of the short reflection expanding on the different categories. A short summary follows:

Worrying: This term is probably a bit on-the-nose, as others might describe this section as "thinking" or "internalizing". But Adelstein is correct in that many people begin to worry the second after they know of an assignment or task to be completed. This is the idea creation stage. By thinking (and worrying) about a topic, one considers how he or she might solve the overall challenge. Writing down thoughts as they come is one way to make it to the next stage, as is doing research on the topic at hand.

Planning: This term might be synonymous with "organizing" or "outlining", terms which by themselves can cause stress. But, as Adelstein says, "the efficient person plans his work". By planning, a writer can eliminate bad ideas in favor of more clear, concise ones.

Writing: You'll notice that "writing" is given a value of only 25% on this list, which is probably a surprise to some. This is because, as Adelstein puts it, "few authors are so talented that they can express themselves clearly and effectively in a first draft". We often want to write something and move on to the next task, and at some point we do all have to move on, but looking at writing as a process means that it doesn't always stop after the initial salvo.

Revising: Adelstein gives the most attention to this fourth section. Revising often requires that we take a step (or two) back from our own work with the purpose of looking at it with an objective eye. This is often difficult to do, which is why it's okay to bring in someone else for this stage. "Only by attacking your paper from the viewpoint of another person can you revise it effectively."

Proofreading: This stage is reserved for issues concerning grammar, punctuation, and other aspects of a paper's appearance. It takes time, but a paper's appearance is a reflection of you as a writer.

This short essay goes through the steps that make up the writing process. Some might quibble on the category names and the weight that Adelstein gives each of them, but the overall message is clear: writing is not something that happens all at once, and it takes commitment to create a complete document.