Trust the Process?

Recently I was going through some old documents and found a piece about the writing process. It was similar to other things I have read in books and heard at conferences, listing everything in proper order: 1. Prewriting; 2. Drafting; 3. Rewriting; 4. Editing; 5. Sharing.

These steps are the way writing SHOULD be, but, as I talk about in my classes at school and at conferences, it doesn’t always go that way. Life happens, other responsibilities happen, and, let’s face it, procrastination happens.

Here’s how my process often goes:

1. Prewriting: I get an idea at the most inopportune time. Sometimes I am able to grab my phone and do a note; other times, I reach for anything—a sticky note, a napkin, a random sheet of paper in the middle of the night—to write it down before I forget it. At times I am driving, and, by the time I reach my destination, I forget the wonderful, awesome, earth-shaking idea.
2. Drafting: Assuming I remember my great idea, I plan a time to write. I open my laptop and a blank document. I type a title. I remember the towels need to be moved from the washer to the dryer. I go to the dryer and find clothes that need to be folded. I take out those clothes, fold them, add the towels to the dryer. By that time, I am hungry. I fix something to eat. Now, the dog needs to be fed. I return to my computer, see the title I typed, and try to remember what it meant.
3. Rewriting: Once I remember my idea and write a few lines, I don’t like what I have written, so I start over. I repeat this process over and over and over . . .
4. Editing: I know I am not supposed to, but I tend to edit as I go, noticing commas out of place, clunky wording, left out words, etc. This part of the process depends on if I finally land on an idea in the previous two steps.
5. Sharing: I try to find a place to share or publish my work. It’s like interstate construction traffic in the summer . . . I wait and wait and wait.

I am thankful for the gift of writing, knowing is something not everyone receives. It’s not for the faint of heart, but, when the process works, we writers get the satisfaction of others being blessed by our words. Just as no two people are the same, no two people have the same writing process, and that’s okay.

What’s your process?

Carlton Hughes, represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary, wears many hats. By day, he is a professor of communication. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, he serves as a children’s pastor. In his “spare time,” he is a freelance writer. Carlton is an empty-nesting dad and devoted husband who likes long walks on the beach, old sitcoms, and chocolate—all the chocolate. His work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dating Game, The Wonders of Nature, Let the Earth Rejoice, Just Breathe, So God Made a Dog, and Everyday Grace for Men. His latest book is Adventures in Fatherhood, co-authored with Holland Webb.