Module 1 — Effective
writing: Strategies
and principles
| Course Guide | Module 1 | Module 2a | Module 2b |
Step 3: Drafting
Drafting refers to the actual process of putting the first version of your document together.
Four useful hints for successful drafting are:
- Concentrate on getting down what you want to say. Free up the writing stage by ignoring both mechanical errors (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.) and the search for the perfect word. Just keep your thought flow going.
- Do not try to write an introduction first or stick to a beginning-to-end structure unless that is what works best for you.
- If you work best on a hardcopy draft, aim for a printed copy with plenty of space available: triple spaced and with wide margins.
- Leave a time gap between drafting and editing.
Sometimes you won't have the luxury of time for a thorough drafting process. You may think that you need to just get down to writing a polished version and forget about the drafting. Really, though, time spent in drafting will save you time in the final writing process. So the time is worth it!