DFW Journal #2
In detail, describe your experiences drafting writing projects. And what about revision? What did that look like? What was your process? How did it work for you?
In my experience drafting writing projects, the first draft is always the hardest for me to write out. If I do not have a clear vision of what I want to write, it is hard for me to get words down on the page and I tend to overthink what I want to say. However, once the first draft is done I find it easier to shape my writing to get my point across. I usually move paragraphs around and cut and add sentences. Often I have a tough time focusing my topic sentences and creating easy transitions between paragraphs, so that is something I usually spend a good amount of time on. Having another person read, ask questions and make suggestions about my writing always helps me focus on the piece’s purpose. It helps me realize what I was trying to say and how I can write it in a clearer way for better understanding.
Revising is always easier for me than writing the initial drafts. Once I have some feedback, I have better intent about where I want the piece to go and what point I want to get across. Usually I focus on the organization and content of the piece first. I try to make sure that the order of the piece has a nice flow, and is set up so that the points build off of each other and easily transition from one to the next. I try to make sure that I am developing my points in a way that makes the most sense to the reader, and in a way that connects back to the central idea. Last I look to edit the details of the piece. I check my grammar and spelling, and rework sentences to make them sound better. When I think I am done I always read it over to make sure it flows well and gets across the message.
