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Online Guide to Writing and Research

The Writing Process

Rewriting

Although it might seem daunting at first, revising your first draft is beneficial in many ways. Hardly anyone gets it right on the first try. Consider the first time you drove a car or rode a bike. It took practice. Your first draft is your practice draft. 

If you think about it, our brains work differently depending on the day. Maybe when you wrote your first couple of paragraphs, you were feeling sharp, after a solid night’s rest. A few days later, when you came back to work on the rest of your draft, you had less than eight hours of sleep the night before, and your phone kept distracting you. Busy adult learners have many responsibilities, and sometimes, by the time you write your paper, your brain is already tired. Because of this, it’s necessary to come back to writing with a fresh perspective as you polish your thoughts.

Even the most seasoned writers write several drafts and lean into the revision process. Utilizing feedback from others, reevaluating your own writing, and taking advantage of tips and tools to help improve your draft are all a part of embracing a solid support system that will lead to confidence and success in your writing endeavors. 

Key Takeaway

  • Revisiting your writing often and on different days offers a fresh perspective each time and is worth the effort.
  • Recognizing your built-in support system (The Effective Writing Center, professors, friends, and family) and utilizing it is key to your writing experience.


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Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing