The where, when, who, and how
You now have some strategies in your toolbox to enhance your rough drafting game: excellent! But when we rough draft, it's important to consider not just what we are doing, but how, where, when, and with whom.
To craft a writing environment that's your perfect individual fit, visit 'Your Writing Environment.'
Here is a shorter version of the content covered in the above guide for you to contemplate:
- How? Do you ever freeze up staring at the blank cursor on the screen? Why not try voice dictation or writing by hand?
- Where? Writing in dedicated study spaces like the library works for some people...but not all! Have you ever paused to reflect on the qualities of the spaces in which you write best? What do they have in common in terms of sound, light, views, etc.? Understanding these factors can unlock greater productivity.
- When? Do you only draft when you have big buckets of time, or have you found ways to maximise smaller pockets of time? What about time of day: have you experimented to find out when words come easiest to you?
- Who? It might be that writing whilst totally alone is ideal, but some writers benefit from the presence of an accountability buddy or writing group.
Summing it all up
Remember that the aims of rough drafting are to produce content, discover ideas, and make connections. The following are some of the key approaches we suggest to enable these activities:
- Before you start drafting, revisit the assignment prompt and your planning/invention materials.
- Give yourself permission to write the first draft in your most natural voice.
- Consider gamifying your drafting process with some freewriting or freespeaking exercises.
- Use placeholders to strategically maintain your focus, get words down, and make editing easier, later.
- Practice using specific mini-goals to progress your rough drafts and stay atop your workload.
- Apply a playful yet scientific approach to sussing out the environmental details that help you draft best (who, when, where, and how).
