Mastering the Writing Process: From Idea to Finished Product in 9 Steps

Discover the major steps of the writing process, why they matter, and how to personalize the process to produce your best work.

By Julie Tyler, Creator of StoryBold 

CONTENTS:

• What is the writing process?
• What are the steps of the writing process?
• Why is the writing process worth going through?
• FAQ

What is the writing process?

The writing process refers to a step-by-step method writers use to complete a single writing project, from idea to finished product. 

In your experience as a writer, you might complete a variety of projects, including:

• Short works like essays, poems, or stories
• Long works like novels, memoirs, or a self-help book

The writing process begins with that first moment of inspiration and goes all the way to the moment you make your work available to readers. Following a process means that you plan what to do first, second and so forth, so that each step logically follows the one before it and helps you complete the next step with greater ease. By mastering the writing process and tailoring it to every project, you can improve the quality of your work and love every minute of sitting down to write. 

Keep reading to learn more about the 9 major steps of the writing process and how to apply them. 

What are the steps of the writing process? 

There’s no one-size-fits-all writing process that works for every project or every writer. Each piece of writing may call for a different rhythm, mindset, or sequence of steps. For example, to write a personal essay, you might begin by reflecting on your own experiences, while a novel might start with a list of characters or a rough plot idea.

In your research, you'll likely notice that different teachers, schools, and writing coaches define the writing process in their own way. I've developed a 9-step version to reflect the full journey a writer takes and to honor the distinct tasks, creative states, and decision points that show up along the way. 

Here are the steps at a glance:

1. Inspiration
2. Ideation
3. Formal discovery
4. System setup
5. Experimentation
6. Building volume
7. Revision
8. Fine-tuning
9. Project launch

As you gain experience and agility, feel free to modify these writing process steps to suit your preferences.

NOTE: The tips and examples I included throughout most relate to the novel writing process, but you can apply the concepts and strategies to other types of writing. 

1. Inspiration 

I define this first step as the moment an idea for a writing project comes to you. This early in the writing process, the idea might start off very basic or unrefined. For example, you might have a general idea to write a romance novel based loosely on one of your past relationships. You know that the main character will be like you in some ways and that the love interest will be like your former partner. Some memories surface of the time you spent together; you'll probably turn those into novel scenes.

In the inspiration stage, the idea isn't more specific than that. And that's perfectly fine. This step is still valuable, because:

• It feels great! Getting inspired generates a lot of excitement and other positive emotions about what you can create. 
• It helps you launch the project! Those good feelings are excellent fuel for the steps ahead. 

In terms of what you should be doing with the inspiration, start by writing the basic idea down, so that you have something visual to refer to. Then, spend some time experiencing the feeling of being inspired. Commit this feeling to memory, so that you can generate your own inspiration any time you want.  

Your turn! Reflect on these questions to get more out of the inspiration phase: 

• When and how did your current writing idea first show up?

• What about it excites or moves you?

• What images or memories came with it?

• How does your body respond when you think about writing it?

Feeling stuck? 

2. Ideation 

In this step, you will build on the initial inspiration, by exploring more specific details of the project. Here, you might be getting to know your characters on a deeper level, deciding where the action takes place, and even thinking about how you want the story to end. As the initial idea becomes more concrete, you might also run it by a few trusted people, especially fellow writers or avid readers, to gather support and a variety of perspectives. Being able to describe what you want to write, in clear terms, is good practice for 

Remember, though, you're still in a very early stage of writing. Don't become too attached to any particular details. And don't rule anything out. Anything can change. In fact, that's the value of ideation:

• You get to explore possibilities without judgment or self-censorship.
• You can allow the project to evolve as you move through the writing process.
• You can avoid making premature decisions about the project, decisions that are best reserved for later when you have more words on paper.

Your turn! Reflect on these questions to get more out of the ideation phase:

• What have you discovered about your idea so far?

• Who or what lives inside it (characters, settings, themes)?

• What shape is it starting to take and how fixed does that feel?

• How does it feel to talk about your idea with others?

Feeling stuck?

You might be overthinking the details, afraid of choosing “wrong,” or struggling to translate your idea into words. Try freewriting for five minutes about your project, without trying to write scenes or passages that will make the final cut. Any ideas are valid right now. Let them come and see what shows up when you're not trying to get it “right.”

3. Formal discovery 

In this step, you are conducting more in-depth brainstorming to discover more possibilities and gain clarity on the next steps forward. Specific tasks might include:

• Starting an outline for your project. What goes in it and in what order?
• Getting to know your characters even more. What makes them tick?
• Researching your topic. What more can you learn in order to write in an informed way?
• Reading comparison titles. What's being published in your category?  

Your turn! Reflect on these questions to get more out of the formal discovery phase:

• What do you already know about your project’s structure, characters, or subject?

• What questions are still open, and where could you look for answers?

• What’s sparking new ideas as you research or outline?

• What are you discovering that surprises or excites you?

Feeling stuck?

You might feel overwhelmed by how much there is to figure out, unsure what to tackle next, or tempted to skip ahead to drafting before the foundation is set. Instead, choose one small act of discovery, such as a bulleted list of every element you are considering including in the project, a character sketch, a single source to research, and follow it with curiosity. Let clarity come piece by piece.

4. System setup

In this step, you are using everything you've put together from the inspiration, ideation, and formal discovery steps to build a system for completing your project. This system encompasses:

• The tools you use, like writing software, productivity apps, or office supplies.
• The writing schedule you keep, and your method of organizing project files. 
• Your network of supporters.
• The writing techniques you are learning to produce your best work. 

Specific tasks in this step might include: 

• Joining a writing community.
• Finding critique partners or beta readers.
• Hiring a writing coach or developmental editor.
• Taking a writing course.

Take time to set up your project for success before venturing further in the writing process. That way, as your project grows, you can stay organized, build important writing skills, and gather actionable feedback from fellow writers. 

Your turn! Reflect on these questions to get more out of system setup phase:

• What writing tools or apps help you stay focused and organized?

• When and where do you write best, and how can you make more of that happen?

• Who’s in your creative corner? What kind of support do you need next?

• What skill do you most want to strengthen in your writing process?

Feeling stuck?

You might be telling yourself you’re not ready for outside support, fancy new software, or a set writing routine. Try out just one thing: a simple file management app like One Drive or Google Drive, scheduling writing session per week, or connecting with one fellow writer. Let your setup evolve from there.

5. Experimentation

With a robust writing system in place, you can experiment with the different writing techniques you're learning to find out what works, what doesn't, what you like, and what you don't. Here are some novel writing experiments you could run:

• Trying out more than one narrative point-of-view, such as first person or third person, to see which one best fits your project. 
• Writing two or more versions of a particular scene, by changing a few elements, to see which one is more dynamic or has more bearing on the plot. 
• Playing around with style and tone, to cultivate your unique voice.

The value of experimentation lies in the experience you gain and information you gather. When you diversify your writing experience, even within a given project, you build a toolkit of skills to leverage later. For example, trying out both first-person and third-person narration might reveal that one brings you closer to your character’s inner world, while the other sharpens your sense of structure and pacing. That kind of discovery helps you make more informed creative decisions, not just for this project, but for future ones too.    

6. Building volume 

This step is more often called drafting. When teaching about the writing process, I like to emphasize the volume aspect of drafting and the effort it takes to write the bulk of your project, scene after scene, chapter after chapter.

If you created an outline during the formal discovery step, listing each scene or plot point in the order they'll appear, then in the building volume step, you're expanding each scene or plot point in your list. This is effectively turning your outline into what will eventually be the reading experience--the plot unfolds and the characters go on a journey and evolve. 

Additional reasons why this step is important include: 

• You follow through with the idea that inspired you in the first place.
• You act on what you learned from experimentation and other prior steps. 
• You implement any feedback you've received from others. 
• You become skilled at handling large bodies of text.

Your turn! Reflect on these questions to get more out of the building volume phase:

• What’s helping you stay consistent in this stage of writing?
• What scene or chapter have you most enjoyed expanding? Why?
• Where do you notice momentum and where does it stall?
• What feedback or insights from your supporters are helping you shape your current pages?

Feeling stuck?

You might find yourself rewriting the same few chapters over and over, unsure how to move forward. Or you might freeze after every sentence, rereading and editing instead of generating new material. Instead, pick one unwritten scene and write a “rough sketch” version: just action, dialogue, or beats. Let it be incomplete. Your only goal while building volume is forward motion.

7. Revision

Revision is a crucial step in the writing process, because it unlocks the value of your first draft and transforms it into your very best work. When performed correctly and thoroughly, revision is a complete overhaul of a first draft. It involves:

• "Re-seeing" your project and bringing a fresh perspective to characters' actions, motives, and experiences.
• Deleting what doesn't work and replacing it with what does.
• Improving the plot.
• Amplifying your voice.

By nature, revision is iterative, which means that you progress through different and distinct versions of your project, with each subsequent one improving upon the one before. For example, the first draft might be competent, in that you've taken characters on a full journey and settled on a narrative point-of-view. The second draft might strengthen the climax and resolution and even correct some plot holes, while a third draft might deepen characters' motives and make individual scenes more gripping.

And so forth. 

By the end, you've got a piece of writing that's pretty close to being ready. And you've raised your awareness of what good writing in your genre looks like.

Unfortunately, beginner writers tend to skimp on the deep and intensive work of revision and instead go from writing the first draft to "editing."  

Editing vs. Revising: These terms are often used interchangeably, but it's useful to understand the differences. Editing can range from simple proofreading to catch grammar and spelling errors to more substantive changes to the plot, characters, or voice. Revising strictly refers to major changes you make to a work after examining it for improvement opportunities. 

Revision tips: 

• Enlist your writing coach, developmental editor, or critique group to help you seize opportunities to revise effectively. 
• Transmute your creative energy into troubleshooting energy, all in service of writing your best work. 
• Remember, anything can change! Never become so attached to early drafts that you miss out on the beauty and magic that revision can bring about. 
• Prepare for revision to take longer, in some cases, than it took you to write your first draft. 
• Avoid premature attempts at publication. The time will come to pitch to literary agents or publish your work on an indie platform. It's important to make sure your project is actually ready for an audience before taking these steps. 

Your turn! Reflect on these questions to get more out the revision phase: 

• Where do your characters’ motivations need more clarity or depth?

• What moments evoke strong emotions, and which could use more impact?

• What feedback have you received that surprised or challenged you?

• How can you approach revision as a process of discovery rather than a chore?

• What small section could you focus on first to make revision feel manageable?

Feeling stuck?

You might be clinging to your first draft, afraid to cut or change scenes you’ve grown attached to. Or you might feel overwhelmed by how much there is to revise, unsure where to start. Instead, pick one small section—a scene, a chapter, or even a paragraph—and focus on improving just that. Break revision into manageable steps, and remind yourself that this is a process of uncovering the best version of your story, one revision at a time.

8. Fine-tuning

Once your major revisions are behind you, your next step is to fine-tune the project. Fine-tuning refers to final changes such as: 

• Fixing minor plot inconsistencies. 
• Improving a short section of dialogue. 
• Finessing sentences.
• Correcting spelling and grammar errors.

Although the majority of the work is behind you, fine-tuning is an important step because get you to squeeze a bit more value out of the project, correct glaring efforts, and give yourself peace-of-mind before launching. 

Your turn! Reflect on these questions to get more out of fine-tuning your work:

• Are there any small plot points or details that don’t quite add up?

• Which sections of dialogue feel unnatural or could be sharper?

• Are there sentences or paragraphs that could be clearer or more vivid?

• Have you spotted recurring grammar or spelling errors that need fixing?

• What final tweaks can you make to enhance your story’s flow and readability?

• How can you create a checklist to catch lingering mistakes before launch?

Feeling stuck?

You might be caught up in endless polishing, unsure when to stop. Or maybe you’re rushing through fine-tuning and missing small but important details. Try setting a time limit for this stage or focus on one type of fix at a time—first plot details, then dialogue, then grammar—to stay organized and avoid overwhelm. You can also enlist the help of a book editor to lighten the burden and make the fine-tuning phase less tedious. 

9. Project launch 

In this step, you'll be making your piece of writing available to readers. There are several ways to launch successfully, depending on your vision for publication.

• Traditional publishing: If you want to go the traditional route and partner with a publishing house, you start the project launch process by seeking a literary agent or pitching directly to publishers that don't require agent representation. Your publisher will then coach you through the next steps leading up to the release date. 
• Indie publishing: If you don't want to partner with a publishing house and have an entrepreneurial mindset, indie publishing, also called self-publishing, may be the best route for you. 

In both the traditional and indie routes, you'll need to take an active role in promoting your work and building relationships with readers. You can do this by building an author platform, including an author website, social media, email newsletter, or other public presence. 

Besides getting your work into the hands of readers, the value of the project launch step is that you extend the reach of your work beyond your own desk, and potentially beyond your own lifespan.  

Read more about traditional publishing HERE. 

Your turn! Reflect on these questions to get more out of launching your project:

• What does a successful launch look like for you?

• Which publishing route aligns best with your goals and values?

• How can you build or strengthen your author platform to connect with readers?

• What promotional strategies feel authentic and manageable for you?

• Who can support you during the launch process: editors, marketers, fellow authors?

• How will you celebrate this milestone and reflect on your journey?

Feeling stuck?

You might be overwhelmed by all the launch options or unsure where to focus your energy. Instead of trying to do everything at once, pick one small step, like setting up your author website or drafting a newsletter, and commit to that. Remember, launching is a process, not a single event. Break it down into manageable parts to keep momentum and stay enthusiastic.

Why is the writing process worth going through?

As we've explored in this article, each individual stage of the writing process offers you many rewards, from being able to articulate your ideas more clearly to unlocking the full potential of a given project. Sometimes these steps can overlap and bleed into one another, but in my writing and teaching practices, I stress the value of each one. As you tailor the writing process to your needs, do consider spending time in step individually. That way, you can: 

• Generate tools to have at your fingertips, such as project notes that help you remember key turning points, character profiles that make your cast feel real and consistent, outlines that keep your plot on track, and research notes that save you from having to Google the same question 10 times.

• Build more skills to use over the course of your writing life, like learning how to revise a scene for emotional impact, experiment with narrative point-of-view, or troubleshoot a flat ending—skills that will serve you again and again in future projects.

• Enjoy the experience of each stage, whether it’s the thrill of inspiration, the puzzle-solving satisfaction of revision, or the focused calm of fine-tuning, without constantly worrying about what comes next or whether you’re “behind.”

• Map out your writing journey, and then relax about it, knowing that there’s a proven path forward. When you understand the purpose of each step, you can stop second-guessing and start moving with intention—even when things feel uncertain.

• Make the right decisions at the right point in the process, like waiting until your second draft to fix that saggy middle or testing out different points-of-view before committing. When you stop trying to do everything at once, your choices become more effective and less stressful.

Curious about AI and how you might use it in your writing process? Learn more HERE. 

Writing process frequently asked questions (FAQ):

How long should I spend on each step of the writing process?

The length of time you spend on any one step varies from one step to another and from one writing project to another. Let's consider some examples:

• The first two steps, Inspiration and Ideation, are typically the shortest, in that they precede the real work of planning the project and getting words on paper.
• As we explored above, revising can last the longest, because you have a full draft you're responsible for.
• I also advise that you give yourself more time than you think you need for project launch. Traditional publishing is a very slow game. It can often take months to find an agent, and then when your agent lands you a book deal, you'll likely see months of back-and-forth with the publisher before your book hits shelves.
• Indie publishing, while often speedier, should not be slapdash. You'll need a solid go-to-market plan in order to reach your target audience and sell your book to them.

The most important thing is to be consistent in your efforts, flexible in your approach, open to new ideas, and committed to your goals.  

Do I have to go exactly in order?

The writing process doesn't have to be strictly linear, and for most of us, it's not. The steps I outlined above offer a general direction for you to follow. At any point in the process, you can always go back to an earlier step, such as pausing revision to go back and deepen a character. You might also find yourself in more than one step at the same time, such as promoting your book while you're still writing it. FOR BEST RESULTS: Modify the writing process to suit your needs and the specifics of every writing project, while still moving in the general direction I recommend. 

What's the most difficult part of the writing process? 

The writing process is full of challenges, no matter how much experience you have. What you find difficult will depend on how you like to work, your skills and experience, and the habits you've adopted. Some writers find revision and fine-tuning difficult, because these steps involve more "fixing" than getting that initial draft down. Conversely, other writers might find it more difficult to draft something from scratch, preferring instead to improve the pages they've already written. It's important to embrace the challenges and rewards of each step in the writing process. That way you can stay the course, finish your projects, and reach your full potential. 

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