The Writing Process

Writing is an act of magic. Out of thin air you’ve conjured something and put it onto the page. People come up with all sorts of routines and rituals to make their writing process more interesting (or at least bearable). These range from healthy to destructive; it’s a common fact that many great writers have been drunks. Hopefully we can channel our deep sensitivities into a more life-affirming process.

In this article, I’ll offer you a structure that can help you overcome the inertial pressure of self doubt and trust the blank page with the stuff of your dreams.

The writing process has three stages: imaginative exploration, shaping that material through story structure, and drafting without self-censorship. It’s how you transform your vague inspiration into a finished story. By trusting curiosity, honoring structure, and prioritizing momentum over perfection in the first draft, you can quiet any self-doubt and let meaningful change emerge on the page.

Why do we write? 

Before I offer you some process ideas, let’s zoom out and remember why we are drawn to write in the first place. 

What’s your reason for writing? The lure of fame and fortune? The curiosity and envy that your favorite writers awaken in you? Is it a refuge, an escape, or a meditative practice? 

Although these are all fine reasons to write, there’s perhaps a deeper reason that lies at the heart of the matter. If you were only in it to pass the time or make a name for yourself, this reason alone might not sustain you through the peaks and valleys. So, why would anyone do something as beautiful and agonizing as writing? To put it simply: the desire to write is connected to our desire to evolve.

“I hate writing, I love having written.”
– Dorothy Parker

Step 1: Imagining the World of your Story

At the beginning of your writing process, focus on just letting your imagination roam around. You might have plot points or characters in mind; jot those down but don’t get married to them yet (or at least sign a prenup). 

It’s too soon to marshall out a story structure. The idea you’re nurturing is still in a delicate place and needs the freedom to stretch its legs. At this point in the process, the story is still residing in your subconscious and tentatively peeking into our conscious awareness. You might have a dream about something that makes you think of this story, or someone might say something that strikes you. Maybe there’s a wound that can’t heal without unpacking what happened to you; a story is a safe place to do it.

While the story is marinating, your subconscious mind needs time to explore and play. That’s the only way your characters can take “wrong turns” or surprise you with paths you hadn’t considered originally. 

So for the time being, just in this first stage of the writing process, eschew all left-brain instincts to outline. It would only serve to limit your story options.

The keyword for this step of the process is curiosity. You might feel like you’re not fully in control of the story; that’s a good thing! If you have a handle on it already, odds are it’s not yet mature enough to surprise you or a reader. 

Step 2: Story Structure and Outline

Now that you’ve had some time to romp and map out the world of your story, you can give your left brain some relief. The second step of writing your story is exploring the structure and allowing an outline to emerge. This is not a process of “figuring out your story” but rather, this is where you are going to marry the wildness of your imagination to the rigor of story structure.

It’s like you had to create the land of Oz in the first step, and now you’re paving the yellow brick road. This path is about wedding your characters to plot. Your characters may have a life before they step onto the yellow brick road and they may have one after. Your readers will pick up on that through context clues. For now, your readers will want to follow your characters along the guardrails of the plot, because they want to see them change and grow.

One way to structure your story is to follow the time-tested three act structure. Here’s how I’d suggest mapping it out for your writing process:

Act One

1. OPENING: Establish the setting of the story and the characters. Tell us the stakes. Introduce us to the protagonist’s desire. What’s unresolved and needs addressing?
2. DILEMMA: Every story is about solving a dilemma. A dilemma isn’t a problem; problems can be ignored or solved by thinking really hard about them. A dilemma is a problem that can’t be solved without creating another problem. 
3. INCITING INCIDENT: Your protagonist may have been dragging their feet on addressing this dilemma. Something happens that forces them to respond and your story begins! What’s that incident and how does your protagonist respond? 
4. OPPOSING ARGUMENT: This is your chance to let us close to your antagonist or the antagonistic force. Who are they and how do they respond to the protagonist or the inciting incident differently? This is your introduction to the type of challenge that your protagonist will face in the climax.  
5. END OF ACT ONE: The stage is set and the plot is now inevitable. The protagonist has made a decision and there’s no going back. Let’s step onto the yellow brick road.

Act Two

1. FALSE VICTORY: Things might start off swimmingly. The goal is possible and the protagonist is buffeted by the winds of beginner’s luck. Show us what makes them worthy before we see them struggle. 
2. MIDPOINT OF ACT TWO: This is the midpoint of the story, after which the end is inevitable. Maybe there’s a new event or the protagonist learns something new. This may be a moment of temptation; the call of comfort, desire, or pleasure lures your protagonist. What are they willing to sacrifice to win? 
3. PROTAGONIST SUFFERS: If we saw your protagonist win at the start of act two, now we have to see them tire. No one relates to a protagonist who just keeps slaying the monsters that appear before them. We want the protagonist to reckon with the difficulty that lies ahead. This is where we are exposed to their character, not just their ability. 
4. END OF ACT TWO: This is where the protagonist may have to die. Not their body, but their old identity. Every change is a small death and a change worthy of a story is a big one. Maybe the protagonist apprehends the reason they really began this journey; they see the nature of the dilemma. Only out of the ashes of their old self can a new self emerge.

Act Three

1. PROTAGONIST ACCEPTS REALITY OF SITUATION: Though the protagonist has surrendered or sacrificed some part of themselves, they don’t give up. This is the point for a change in strategy. There’s wisdom in recognizing one’s limits and trying anyway; maybe the protagonist, having sacrificed their pride in Act Two, can finally ask for help. Maybe they sacrificed their dependence on others and realize they need to do it alone. Whatever their initial approach was, it changes here.
2. ACTION: Armed with this new strategy or approach, the protagonist can take a new action to advance toward their goal. 
3. BATTLE SCENE: Here’s the moment for some blood and guts (metaphorically speaking). The protagonist at this point knows the dilemma they face; the battle here is between their want and their need. Though we might see an actual battle, something about it has to mirror their inner battle. 
4. NEW EQUILIBRIUM: Having changed and learned something new, the protagonist can return home. The only difference now is that they can find some peace. The dilemma is resolved.

Step 3: Write, Write, and Write Some More

Now that you’ve got an outline, there’s a road map to follow for your writing process. Bit by bit, you can chip away at each section and follow your protagonist(s) along the plot. Hopefully, the work you’ve done in the first two steps makes this process less intimidating. With an idea of your beginning, middle, and end, you can flesh out the textures and colors of your story along the way without having to worry about what comes next. 

As you scribble or type away, here are some dos and don’ts to help you:

1. DO let desire be your guide. 

As Ray Bradbury puts it, “First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!” You’ll slowly develop a seventh sense; you’ll be able to follow the trail of excitement that your protagonist is implicitly tracking. The obstacles along the way should test how important this desire is to your protagonist. If you’ve set up the dilemma, they’ll have no choice but to see it through.

2. DON’T edit along the way. 

It can be tempting to peek at what you’ve written and clean the prose up a bit. Do your best to resist that temptation. The first draft will always be messy and it should be! You’ll only delay your progress and become overly self-conscious if you stop to reflect. At this stage of the writing process, sprint along the path you’ve paved.

3. DO give yourself permission to write poorly. 

This is a great act of self-care. There’ll be plenty of time for good writing in second and third drafts. By letting yourself write “poorly,” you give yourself permission to put down imprecise descriptions and inconsistent dialogue. That’s good! Odds are, it’s better than you think anyway.

4. DON’T discuss your story. 

If you can get away with it, don’t even tell anyone you’re writing it. There’s a magic you’re protecting in your story. By letting it out, you’ll implicitly put pressure on yourself to make the story “good” or impress someone else. Let the writing breathe.

When you focus on the process and not the result, you will start to discover that the thrill of creation is hugely rewarding. Your anxiety quiets, and you stop doing a daily cost-benefit analysis on whether or not you should continue. The work deepens, and sometimes the pages seem to write themselves. Remember, the desire to write is the desire to evolve, and that invites some growing pains. By being gentle with yourself and making your writing a daily habit, you will begin to surprise yourself with the stories that start to pass through you. 

If you’re ready to deepen your writing process with structure and build a system that supports your creativity, join one of my upcoming workshops: The 90-Day Novel, The 90-Day Memoir, Story Day.