Writing Guides

✍️ What is the writing process? 

The writing process refers to the series of steps writers move through when creating written work. This approach views writing a document not as a single act but as a recursive, multi-stage process.

🧠 Where did the idea of the writing process come from? 

The writing process as we understand it today emerged largely in the 1960s and 1970s. Before this period, writing instruction typically focused on the final product rather than the process of creation. Peter Elbow was particularly influential in popularizing the process theory of writing through his books Writing Without Teachers (1973) and Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process (1981). 

🪜 What are the steps of the writing process? 

Different teachers emphasize the steps of the writing process in different ways. At MacEwan Writing Centre, we have organized our guides on the Writing Process as follows: 

1. Understanding Assignment Guidelines 
2. Prewriting and Planning
3. Drafting and Revising
4. Proofreading

Keep in mind, however, that the writing process is not always linear. Sometimes, you'll need to circle back to earlier stages of the process in order to revise your writing as your project evolves. 

🔄 What does the writing process look like today? 

Today, the process approach to teaching writing has evolved to recognize that:

• Writing is recursive rather than strictly linear
• Social and cultural contexts influence writing processes
• Digital technologies have transformed writing practices (hence our guide on writing with generative AI) 
• The importance of self-reflection throughout the process