What is involved in the writing process?

Every writer – be they a copywriter, content writer or creative writer – follows his or her own writing process. Often the methodology is a routine that comes naturally. It is not a step-by-step guide to which writers refer – far from it! Being cognizant of your own writing process is particularly helpful when you find yourself grappling with a particularly challenging piece.

Here are four stages which most writers will go through during the writing phase:

1. Prewriting involves anything that takes place before pen is put to paper. Activities during this phase could include, research, outlining as well as brainstorming.
2. Drafting involves taking the ideas that you conceptualised in phase one and fleshing these out. As you begin to form coherent sentences to support your ideas, you may develop different angles with which to approach your content.
3. During the revision phase, you go over what you’ve written and see where you can refine and improve on it so that your message is communicated well.
4. The editing phase involves polishing the document and eliminating things such as typos and grammatical mistakes. It’s a good idea (actually an advisable one!) to get a third-party editor to go over your work. This is because they will have the ability to pick up anything you may be missing.

The types of writing

There are four primary types of writing: expository, descriptive, persuasive in addition to narrative. Every single writing style is used for a particular purpose. Also, a single text may include more than one writing style.

The term ‘expository writing’ refers to one of the most common types of writing. When someone writes in an expository style, all they are attempting to do is explain a concept as well as impart information from themselves to a broader audience. Expository writing does not encompass the author’s opinions but highlights accepted facts about a topic, including statistics or other evidence.

Descriptive writing can often be seen in fiction although it can make an appearance in non-fiction as well such as in memoirs, first-hand accounts of events, or travel guides. When an author writes in a style that is descriptive they are painting a picture in the words of a person, place, or thing for the audience. The author might use metaphor or other literary devices in order to describe the author’s impressions via the five senses, in other words hearing, sight, taste, touch and smell. However, the author is not trying to convince the audience of anything or explain the scene. They are merely describing things as they are.

Persuasive writing is the main type of writing which you will use in academic papers or marketing copy. When an author writes in a style that is persuasive they are attempting to convince the audience of a position or belief. Persuasive writing encompasses the author’s opinions and biases in addition to justifications as well as reasons given by the author to show the correctness of a selected  position. Any “argumentative” essay should be formulated in a persuasive style of writing.

Narrative writing is utilised in almost every longer fiction or non-fiction piece of writing. When an author pens their work in a narrative style they are not just trying to impart information. They are attempting to construct and communicate a story, complete with characters, conflict, and settings.

Whether you write articles, company materials, fiction, letters, or even merely notes in your journal, your writing will be at its optimum if you remain focused on your purpose. Each of the four writing genres which we discuss in this article has a distinct aim. In addition, they all necessitate different manners of writing skills.

Get in touch with the Digital School of Marketing

Want to learn more about writing and become a proficient writer yourself? If you do, then you really need to check out our National Diploma in Copywriting. For more information, please follow this link.