The Parts of the Writing Process that Aren't Writing

Just because you aren’t putting words on a page doesn’t mean you aren’t writing. There is so much that falls outside the words on paper stage that is still the writing process. I think it’s important to talk about this because there is such a focus on hitting word counts in writer spaces, and I just want to assure you that hitting word counts isn’t the only thing to celebrate.

I will warn you, there are a few tasks here that, while important, can be a form of productive procrastination, and maybe you should actually be worried about getting words on a page (or at least moving on to a new step) in those cases! If you are spending a lot of time in the first section of this post, it might be time to focus on an “actual project” and if you’re spending a lot of time researching, maybe take a research break and write parts of the story that don't require that knowledge.

Moving forward I will be saying these things aren’t writing, meaning they aren’t “writing proper,” but I want you to know that they are every bit as important as getting the words on the page.

The Skill & Inspiration Building

Okay, this one’s a little abstract. And the one to most caution against in terms of productive procrastination. But, skill and inspiration are a part of every piece you write (not just your current WIP), so you should make an effort to build them. Consider these especially when you are feeling the burden of writer’s block or you’re taking a rest between writing and editing or editing and revising. 

Reading and Analyzing

Reading in general is a great way to gain inspiration (as well as simply enjoy yourself!) but writers should make an extra effort to, sometimes, analyze what they're reading. Not just in the literary sense but in the craft sense too.

I think it best to do this with things you’ve already read. Think about the things you like and dislike about a book and figure out what about the prose and story crafting actually creates those feelings. Maybe you found the story used tension and release well. Figure out how they did that. Maybe you liked the rhythm of the prose. Figure out what makes it flow so well and why it worked for that story.

Experiencing Life

Get away from the notebook, close the laptop, and go experience life a little. Go to a museum, an art show, try a new hobby, meet some new people… look for inspiration outside of stories. I find this to be a great source of character inspiration (though any part of your story can be inspired by experiences). You can people-watch or speak with new people, but something less obvious is that you can pay attention to your interiority while struggling with something new or while interacting with others. This can help you write your character’s interiority later.

Working on the Craft

Working on the craft may put words on the page but they're not words for anyone else. These are your secret words where you can experiment without fear of judgement. This is when you do exercises like word sprints (and analyzing them), grammar tests, copy work… things like that. 

You can also read books on the craft. They often have exercises in them! But they also provide great nuggets of wisdom and things to think about. They may help you improve your prose, your story crafting, or your process.

The Actual Project

Okay, this is where we actually start to work on the current project. This is truly part of the writing process if not the physical act of writing. Our projects begin with idea generation; we have to have somewhere to start. Then we have to figure out all the bits and bobs that turn that vibe, character, event, concept, whatever, into an actual story. At this point we may realize we don’t know enough and need to do some research. And only then do we start to put words down that may eventually end up in the final draft. And that’s an important piece of the puzzle too! This is just the first draft and editing “isn’t” writing.

Thinking

The day dreaming, the brainstorming, the discussion with friends, the epiphanies in the middle of the night, these are all a part of the writing process. It’s perhaps a small one, and one that you can’t see progress on, but also very important. This is where the ideas come from! The sparks, the concepts, the what-ifs. 

It’s also sometimes where the connections and solutions are born. Thinking takes up a big part at the beginning, but you never stop thinking about your writing. Thinking gives you the spark but when you inevitably get stuck while writing, it also gets you unstuck. This is why being bored is so important.

Planning

I said in a previous post that planning and outlining get lumped into the same category for me, but I will discuss them separately here just for the fun of it. And I’m also sure some people keep them separate for organizational purposes. 

Planning is kind of like the messy first draft of outlining. It might happen all in your head a la “thinking” but you may also be a person that likes to get those messy thoughts on the page before organizing them into a proper outline.

It’s the unsolidified version of an outline where you figure out the details. My planning looks a lot like a Q&A session with myself.

Outlining

Outlining tends to be a bit less chaotic than planning, even for our chaotic discovery friends. It’s where we present our ideas in a more or less organized way so it can actually be used as reference while we’re writing. The degree to organization and detail depends heavily on the writer, but outlining, in my opinion, is good for all. 

But this still isn’t writing! We may be getting words on the page, but they’re not finished piece words, they're reference words. Often outlines aren’t even full sentences but bullet points. Your planning and outlining may have sections with long form writing but usually not for the purposes of being copy-pasted into your novel later.

Researching

During research, you may be taking notes, but you’re still not technically writing. However, without this step your story may never make sense. Whether you’re writing historical fiction and need to be sure about the technology and events at the time of your story or you’re writing sci-fi and want things to seem plausible, or a story set in a place you’re unfamiliar with, not researching will leave your story hollow and possibly irk the people that actually know about the topic!

Editing

Many writers dread the editing part, or at least that seems to be the loud consensus. I’ve met many that enjoy the process, and I personally love editing (though I prefer editing for others than editing my own work!) This is another important part of the process though! First drafts are never perfect.

And I'm not just talking about a typo here and there (or very much everywhere if you’re “fat fingered" like me.) But big changes often need to be made to the narrative and structure. Sometimes, as we write we change things from the original outline, and the first round of edits is retroactively making those changes make sense. Other times, we realize we missed setting up the twist and it feels too out of left field. Big changes first, then small ones, editing is no small feat.

We’ve got substantive, stylistic, and copy-editing ahead of us. Not to mention beyond self editing when you’re working with alpha and beta reader feedback, critique partners, and editors.

Sure the revising and rewriting that comes afterward is back to writing, but the reading and correcting? Not writing.

And then there’s the “once it’s done”

Querying

Just because your manuscript is finished doesn’t mean you’re done! Now you have to get it out there! Assuming you’re going the traditional publishing route, there’s actually some more non-manuscript writing that you have to do: a query letter. 

Querying also has a research phase where you find the best agents for you and your piece and personalize those query letters to increase your chances. Of course, your query letter can only get you so far, those first pages must also be engaging. 

Publishing

Whether you are self- or trad-publishing, there’s a publishing phase to the writing process.

With self publishing you’ll have to figure out where you’ll publish, get cover art made, write cover copy and product description, and, maybe, get some authors to blurb your book.

If you’re on the trad publishing route you have the whole hurry up and wait while your agent pitches to publishers, then, often, more editing rounds!

Marketing

And, the part that never ends: marketing your writing. People can’t buy your book if they don’t know about it! It’s the part most authors seem to hate even more than editing. (I still don’t understand because I also like the marketing side of things! [Have I ever expressed how much I feel I don’t fit in with writers? lolol]) For you self-publishers this also might include talking to book buyers at local bookstores to persuade them to carry a copy or two of your book.

And some authors think they can get away with not marketing if they’re traditionally published because “The publisher does that, right?” Well, they might give you a slight upper hand in that they’ll get your books on shelves at bigger stores, but the actual advertising to consumers? That's pretty much on you (or someone like me).

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If it wasn’t clear before, it’s gotta be clear now, that “writing” is so much more than just writing a story. So don’t fear the word count goals, be free to focus on other things and not feel like you’re not living up to writer community standards.

Are there any other tasks you can think of that are a part of your writing project or process that aren’t technically writing?

And as always, if you would like some help with editing or marketing, I’m around! Just send me an email.

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Jerrica is a writer and editor who inspires up-and-coming writers to create compelling fiction and creative nonfiction works while providing them with the confidence to do it themselves or ask for a helping hand when they need it. She enjoys speculative fiction, horror and gut-wrenching emotion with a side of food & drink and the cozier things in life.