So this draft is quite a mess. I decided to start writing when an idea hit me: How to go from Newlywed to single again. I started out with a few other ideas: reasons NOT to have a baby, why you SHOULD have a baby, having a baby to solve your relationship problems… I started lists for each of these topics and hit a dead end. Even I wasn’t convinced. Then I finally got this idea that I have several ideas for writing.
So now that I have something I feel I can really work with, I just keep recording ideas. It seems that much of this writing process is taking place in my head as nobody else seems to understand what’s going on in my chicken scratch draft. But I have a pretty good idea of where I’m going.
I think once I get the outline down, the middle section, the actual list, will come together.
I’m enjoying writing this piece so far. I haven’t been so worried about the grammatical, punctuational, and structural aspects as much as I’ve been concentrating on getting my ideas on paper. Which I think is a step I often skip when writing. I typically just jump right in before I decide on an audience, a purpose, or even a topic. I think this is just evidence of what I’m taking away from our writing class thus far. It may not be pretty, yet; and it may not make sense, yet; but I’m embracing the writing process in my own way and learning how differently it can be used.
I don’t want to be the type of teacher that expects first drafts to be pre-final drafts. I want my students to be able to experience each step of the way since I’m beginning to understand the benefits of each step myself. I’ve typically been a one-draft type of person in which I write, revise, and edit all at the same time. Later on, I usually think of something I could have or should have done differently or realize something I left out. This messy draft is internally allowing me to stay in the early stage of writing, where I feel there is still plenty of work to be done. Whereas in later drafts, I typically become attached to my writing as it appears more finished, making me more stubborn to change it.
I’m excited to see where this draft and process lead me with this piece. And hope that nobody actually takes the advise I’m advertising in it!😂
Writings about Writing 