The 7 stages of joyful writing
Every stage is different.
How do you feel when you’ve got a lot of writing to do? Under pressure? A bit stressed? Happy?
If you want to create valuable content to build your business you’ll almost certainly have a lot of writing on your to do list. Whether it’s blogs, newsletters, guides or scripts, you need to get your word count up, and get your writing out into the world.
It can feel daunting, but something which lightens the load enormously is to acknowledge that writing isn’t just one task. Writing is a series of tasks. And one way to make writing loads easier, and more rewarding, is to tackle each stage separately.
The seven stages of writing
Idea
Planning
First draft
Rewrite/edit
Proofread and polish
Publish
Share
Each stage requires different skills, a different energy, or just a different focus. You might find that some are better suited to different times of day, or even just a different mood. If you can give yourself the time and space to do it, there’s joy to be found in every task.
Here are some tips for getting the most out of each stage, so that the process is more effective, and more enjoyable too.
Idea
You don’t need to be tied to a keyboard to come up with a good idea, ideas can happen anywhere. Walking, running, having a shower, chatting to friends and colleagues, listening to clients, watching the news, scanning Twitter, reading a novel...sometimes it’s way easier to come up with ideas when you’re away from your desk.
I get some of my best work ideas when I combine running with talking to Sonja. Movement helps me think more creatively, having someone enthusiastic to bounce ideas off helps channel and focus them. There’s something about being both relaxed and active that helps ideas to flourish. Deliberately cultivating this state can become a lovely part of your writing process.
My trick for capturing ideas is to notice them, and make notes while they’re fresh in my mind. Some of the very best ideas for blogs come from things clients say, and particularly the questions they ask. Keep a notebook so you can jot them down when they happen.
Giving yourself a brainstorming space can be a handy way of getting a lot of ideas in one go. If you can tap into a creative stream you might find the ideas tumble out so you can scoop up a lot in one go. Exercises like trying to come up with 20 blog ideas in 20 minutes can sometimes turn up trumps. They won’t all be great, but you may well find 3 or 4 stars in the mix.
2. Planning
Sometimes overlooked in the writing process, but super useful if you’re writing valuable content for your business. Taking that initial idea and stress testing it before you start can help you stay focused while you’re writing, and also ensure the idea doesn’t run out of steam half way through. It will help you structure your writing too, making the editing process easier.
A planning template, like the one we’ve created for our Content Writing Club, will help by prompting you to think through who you’re writing for, what problem it solves for them, what your big idea is, what you want the reader to do differently once they’ve read it. And it will prompt you to think about what you want this piece of writing to do for your business too.
Valuable content exists in the sweet spot between content that’s valuable to you, and content that’s valuable to your business too. Thinking all this through, and planning it all out before you start will give your writing the greatest chance of success. Not least because it means you don’t begin the next stage with a blank sheet of paper.
Planning will also highlight any places where you need to do some research. Give yourself some time to do that before you start writing too. The aim of these pre-writing activities is to give yourself everything you need to be able to write that first draft. Going down research rabbit holes is one of the joys of creating content, but it’s a big distraction if you do it while you’re trying to actually write.
3. Writing a first draft
This is the stage that most people would identify as ‘writing,’ and the place where procrastination tends to hit hardest. Starting with a new document and a blinking cursor and the knowledge that you’ve got hundreds of words to write can feel really daunting. (And it’s where having a well thought through and researched plan really helps.)
Give yourself time, and turn off distractions. Make your writing space as comfortable as you can. If you like writing to music then put on your writing soundtrack. Tea in a favourite mug, a room with a view? Basically anything you can do to make sitting still to write more appealing is a good idea.
The key to first draft writing is to just get the words down any old way. You might have to coax yourself into a writing frame of mind. Try a creative writing exercise on pen and paper before you start, to wake up your writing muscles.
Get your reader clearly in your mind before you start. Writing to just one person will help your writing stay on track - and will help make it warmer and more empathetic.
And when it comes to your writing, don’t judge yourself, don’t worry it’s not good enough, don’t overthink it. Just splurge out and enjoy the sensation of creating something from nothing.
Using the Pomodoro technique of writing in 25 minute blocks is a good way of making the writing seem more manageable - the end is always in sight - and keeping up the momentum. It’s the method we use at Content Writing Club, and people are often surprised at how much they can achieve in a session. We love it because it means you get writing done, but without getting overtired. You won’t grind to a complete halt if you write in this controlled and focused way, and you won’t lose heart if you hit a difficult patch. Writing with other people makes it more fun. There’s something about sharing a space with others that makes it more productive and enjoyable.
Experiment and find your best time to write. I like early mornings best, but you might be a night owl. There’s no right time or wrong time, but there’ll be a best time for you, so see what works.
Whenever you write it, and however you get it done, embrace your messy first draft. It’s a big achievement, and the hardest work is done.
4. Rewrite/edit
All good writing is rewriting. This is the stage where you’ll turn your first draft ramblings into something approaching a good shape. With the benefit of some time - at least overnight - edit your work.
You’re looking to improve lots of different things when you’re editing a piece of copy. You want to amplify the good bits, and cut anything that isn’t working.
Ask yourself these questions and start shaping your work.
Does it work for my ideal reader?
Does it make sense?
Is the pace right?
Does it flow?
Does it sound like me?
Is it clear what I want the reader to do now?
Trying to tackle the whole lot at once can be overwhelming, so break the editing stage down into two phases. A big picture edit, and an edit for clarity.
In the first phase - you’re working to get the big picture and flow right.
You’ll have a head start if you used a planning template to help you structure your thoughts. But if you’ve freestyled it, start shaping your ideas into short paragraphs. Look at the order. Think of the flow that would work best, so that one idea naturally leads to another. It will still be messy at this stage and that’s okay.
Keep your real person reader firmly in your mind as you’re editing, in the same way you did when you were writing. Imagine they’re sitting right next to you as you talk to them. If you’ve included anything that you don’t think they need to hear, get rid of it. Cut anything that feels like it’s getting in the way of the story you’re telling.
This big picture edit isn’t just cutting words though. It’s at this stage that you can spot the places where your piece feels a bit thin, or where some more colour or texture would give it more impact. Is there a story you can weave in? Some real-life details that will bring it to life?
Keep asking yourself these questions. Does this make sense? Does this idea fit here? Am I trying to say too much? Is there anything else I need to add?
Once you feel like you’ve only got the important stuff on the page, you can start looking at the flow. You want to hook your reader’s attention right at the start, so put the key idea first. Maybe ditch a meandering introduction and leap straight in with your first point.
Make every paragraph count. Every paragraph should contain an idea that one before or the one after doesn’t. Chuck out any wobbly paragraphs that aren’t pulling their weight.
And then do the same with your sentences. Whatever it is you’re saying, just say it once. Ditch repetitive sentences. (Revel in your power! Cutting stuff is fun!)
And all the time, remember your reader, sitting there next to you. You’re just walking her through your piece. If you can sense she's getting bored or fidgety, cut the words where attention drifts. Keep her with you by sticking to the point.
When you’ve got as far as you can on this big picture edit leave it for a while. At least a day. More if you have the luxury of time.
In the second edit your aim is to make your writing as clear as possible. You might find more things that you can throw overboard, and my advice here is to be brutal.
It’s also the phase where you can focus on the detail of the words you choose, so that your finished piece of writing sings.
Things to throw out during editing
Anything obvious that doesn’t need saying e.g. ‘In this blog I will…’
Cliches
Jargon. Have your ideal reader in mind and only use the words that she would use. Industry language that’s understood and used by your audience isn’t jargon, and can stay. Any words or phrases that you could use in a game of Business Bingo can go.
Over wordy phrases. Say ‘about’ instead of ‘in regard to.’
Things to add during editing
Linking sentences. Build transitions - little word bridges - between paragraphs so your reader moves smoothly from one idea to the next.
More full stops. Break overly long sentences down into shorter ones.
Sub-headings. If you’re writing for the web, include sub-headings to make your writing easier to scan online.
Things to tweak during editing
Sentence structure. Put the most important words at the beginning of sentences.
Sentence length. While shorter sentences tend to work better, it’s good to vary sentence length overall. Mixing some longer sentences into your work alongside short and punchy ones makes your writing feel more conversational.
Word choice. If there’s a simpler word, use it. If there’s a more powerful word, swap it in.
And when you’ve gone as far as you can go, from painting the big picture down to considering the choice of individual words, step away from it again.
5. Proofread and polish
With the benefit of a bit of time, reread what you’ve written. You’re looking for spelling mistakes or places where you’ve used the wrong word. (Google Docs will pick up places where you’ve spelt a word wrong, but it won’t always tell you if you’ve used the wrong word if it’s spelt correctly.)
To make sure it’s absolutely as good as it can be, read it out loud. Check the punctuation in any spots where you find it hard to take a breath. Smooth out any places where you stumble.
Reading it in a different format can help. Look at it on your phone and see how it reads. Print it out and give it to someone else to look at.
6. Publish
Get it up on your website, into your newsletter template, or wherever it is that you’re publishing.
Check the formatting looks good. Give your writing space to breathe, and your reader will be happy.
Make sure any links go to the right places.
Don’t forget to tag it properly, and to do all the good SEO housekeeping tasks that will help people find you online.
This is one of those admin stages of writing, where you need a cool head rather than creative fire. Hard to do if you’re rushed or distracted, so make some time for it, and just follow the process. There’s joy to be found in making it look good - if you really can’t find it, then maybe get some help here. Some people LOVE this stage and their passion will help make your writing shine!
7. Share
Make the most of all your hard work by sharing your writing far and wide. If you were writing with a client in mind, send it directly to them. Send it directly to anyone else that you know would find it helpful. Add it to your next newsletter. Write a post on LinkedIn and share it there. Same on Twitter. And Instagram too if that’s part of your mix.
Tag people where it’s relevant to do so. Include #hashtags to help others find you too.
This sharing stage requires a burst of efficient energy, so don’t try to do it when you’re tired or distracted. It’s one of those dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s type jobs which you’ll get most value from if you do it when you’re firing on all cylinders.
And finally
If you’d like the Valuable Content Planning Template, and you like the idea of writing with others do join Content Writing Group. During every session there are people working on all stages of the process, so there’ll be somebody there who understands what you’re going through!
