STEP 3: Using the Yo-Yo Approach
If the organization plan you developed during the writing process is not working well
for your purpose, then, using the yo-yo approach, go back to the prewriting steps
that dealt with organization and try a different plan. Rearrange supporting details
accordingly.
STEP 4: Letting Thoughts Flow
As you write, concentrate on allowing your thoughts to flow. Here’s how:
• Do not struggle with words or spelling or punctuation or other mechanical
details.
• Do not act on the urge to reread, restructure, and rewrite. Rather, concentrate
on getting your main ideas on paper, writing quickly, perhaps even informally.STEP 5: Following Paragraphing Techniques
As your thoughts flow, frame them into paragraph structures. Even though you will
polish structure during the revising process, the conscious concern over paragraph
structure at this point may save some agony later. [See Writing a Paragraph later in
this chapter.]
STEP 6: Sticking to the Subject
Stick to your subject to maintain unity. Avoid the temptation to wander off into inter-
esting examples that do not support your topic or thesis sentence. Try to use transi-
tions to connect your ideas and to show relationships between and among them.
STEP 7: Ignoring (for the Moment) Technical Details
It should be obvious that what happens while you are writing is merely the result of
using the products you developed in your prewriting work. All other kinds of techni-
cal work—mechanics, grammar, usage, and sentence structure, as well as fine points
of parallelism, emphasis, and formal structure—can be left for the revising and
proofreading processes.
STEP 8: Writing the Rough Draft in One Sitting
Make every effort to complete a first draft in a single sitting in order to maintain a
consistent tone and smooth continuity with less effort.
When you complete a first draft, you have passed a major hurdle. You have your
thoughts on paper. You have completed the plan set out in the prewriting activities.
But this is a first draft—rough draft, if you prefer. Rough drafts need polish. The pol-
ishing comes with revising and proofreading. So when you have a first draft finished,
take a well-deserved break and come back ready to be objective about your work.
12 / Basics of Good Writing