How the Five-Step Creative Process Strengthens Written Content
By Alissa Dedic
Ever stared at the cursor flashing on a blank screen? How about stared at a blank piece of paper? What to write? How to put the idea into words? Writer’s block is a very real problem for many writers. A good way to cure writer’s block is to establish a creative process.
The creative process plays a significant role in the writing process. The creative process is the thought process involved in creating something. In the blog post, “The 5 Step Creative Process”, Anna Harmon states that there are five steps that make up the creative process:
- Preparation
- Incubation
- Illumination
- Evaluation
- Verification
For the purpose of exploring the creative process and writing, we will rename these steps:
- Brainstorm
- Outline
- Research
- Draft and Revise
- Evaluate
Brainstorm
Brainstorming is when a writer uses a brainstorming exercise to gather the information or ideas around a topic. Experimenting with brainstorming exercises prevents writer’s block because the writer gathers all the ideas in one place. Some examples of brainstorming exercises are:
- Starbursting
- Cluster mapping
- Answer who, what, when, where, how and why
- Use writing prompts
- Lists
My personal favorite is the cluster map. First I write the topic in the middle of a piece of paper and circle it. Second I write out all the ideas and things associated with the topic. I often answer the six w’s at this time: who, what, when, where, how and why. Third I start an outline.
Outline
Outlining is the creation of focus in the manuscript. I turn my brainstorming exercise into my outline. Most word processing software have an outline format. This makes it easy for writers to create outlines because they don’t have to try to remember how to outline. Each idea becomes a major point in the outline. Then I make notes on the supporting information for each idea. Next I begin to do research because I want to know how I know what I know or if there are other viewpoints to consider or represent in the manuscript. For fiction I may need to research careers or life in another part of the world to properly represent something I have never experienced.
Research
Research is the process of finding primary and secondary sources that back up why I know what I know about something or provide information about the other perspectives to consider or represent. For nonfiction writing, this will mean looking up books, articles or websites from educational, professional or government institutions to provide peer reviewed information. It may mean interviewing an expert in that field or industry. The information supports why I know what I know or why I have the perspective I have. These primary sources will provide the opposing perspective as well. Any different perspectives need to have a fair representation in a persuasive manuscript.
Secondary sources are opinions or editorials in newspapers or magazines, websites like Wikipedia or interviews on podcasts, in newspapers and magazine or on blogs. These sources can provide insight and creativity when exploring a topic. Sometimes the secondary source will introduce a new thought or idea that is intriguing and changes the direction of the manuscript. Often times secondary sources have a works cited or bibliography that features the primary sources for the information presented. The fresh perspectives from secondary sources help the ideas in nonfiction writing come to life and engage the reader. They offer the detailed information that readers want to read.
For fiction, research may include primary and secondary sources. The research is less about supporting ideas and perspectives. The research revolves around creating believable characters and experiences. For some genres the research may involve researching all kinds of different topics like places the author has never lived, space, science, technology… truly an endless list of the things an author needs to know to satisfy the reader’s curiosity or give the reader a good reason to suspend disbelief.
The outline is completed through the research stage. The manuscript is now ready for its first draft.
Drafts and Revision
Drafting is the process a manuscript goes through as the writer begins to write the manuscript. There are normally three stages in drafting: rough draft, second draft and final draft.
The rough draft or first draft is when the writer turns the outline into a manuscript that is detailed and organized. The writer doesn’t worry about spelling and grammar during this draft. The writer simply writes out the ideas.
The second draft is when the writer goes back over what has been written and looks for areas to improve. This is when the writer corrects spelling and grammar mistakes, adds in citations for nonfiction writing, looks for inconsistencies and makes sure details are correct. This process is called revision or self-editing. A writer can improve their self-editing skills through grammar workbooks and classes. Spelling is usually a tricky issue for most writers. It involves memorizing words or using the dictionary. The manuscript is ready for feedback from a trusted friend, family member, or an editor.
The final draft is when the writer has polished the manuscript to make it the best it can be. There are no more known mistakes or issues in the manuscript. The final draft is ready for editing by a professional editor or for publication.
A couple of pieces of advice about drafting and revising. First put the rough or first draft away for a while before revising it. Time helps writers to be less critical of the writing and to focus on what needs to be improved. For some writers this time is as short as an hour or two later, but other writers need overnight or days maybe even weeks to separate the drafting and revision stages. Second revision happens in multiple drafts. For some writers this means there is rough draft, a first draft, a second draft and so on. Drafting and revision take time.
Evaluate
Evaluation is the most stressful part of the creative process for me and many writers. This is when the manuscript is critiqued by a teacher, a friend, a family member or an editor. This is when the writer finds out if the manuscript stands the test for its intended audience. Is the information appropriate for the audience’s age or experience? Does the manuscript provide the expected elements for its intended genre? Does the manuscript follow proper spelling, grammar and style guide rules? For many writers the evaluation process includes getting rid of some of their favorite things about a manuscript because they don’t support the manuscript well.
On the other hand, evaluation provides confirmation that the writer did indeed create a high-quality manuscript. Evaluation lets the writer know that the manuscript is ready for publication. Evaluation silences the writer’s fears that there are mistakes in the manuscript. Also evaluation offers praise for the hard work the writer has put into preparing the manuscript. The writer may even receive specific feedback about what exactly was done well so they can repeat those things for future manuscripts.
Conclusion
In writing the creative process is made up of brainstorming, outlining, researching, drafting, revising, and evaluating the manuscript. No one publishes their first draft. Most writers revise and draft many times before even submitting the manuscript to someone for feedback. The creative process is fascinating because no two writers use the same techniques and exercises to begin manuscripts. I use a different brainstorming exercise for poetry than for nonfiction or fiction writing. Sometimes a great manuscript comes from a brainstorming exercise I have never used or have forgotten about. Research and outlines provide direction and focus for manuscripts. Drafting and revision offer the time and space for creative expression and polishing. Evaluation confirms the manuscript is high-quality writing. The creative process is intriguing because it looks different for each writer and genre. The creative process offers a manuscript the chance to become something unique.
Comment below to share to your favorite brainstorming technique. Do you need more information about the creative process for your work in progress? Contact me at elkcreekcontent@gmail.com for a consultation. Was this post helpful? Please like and share with your writing community.
Works Cited and Resources
Harmon, Anna. https://pearce.caah.clemson.edu/the-5-step-creative-process/
https://writing.ku.edu/prewriting-strategies
https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/writing-as-process/outlining
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