Novice Writers

Experienced Writers

Think they have to have everything figured out before they start writing.

Know that the process of writing will help them discover what they want to say and how to say it.

See writing as the process of transcribing their ideas onto a page.

See writing as a process of creating ideas.

See revision in terms of tinkering with words, usually to find a “better word.”

See revision as the process of discovering, developing and refining their ideas.

Are on the look-out for repeated words when they revise.

Are on the look-out for repeated ideas when they revise.

Rarely question or revise the global structure of their essay once they have started writing.

Often make sweeping global revisions as their ideas develop.

Edit prematurely and in so doing lose track of the flow of their ideas and squelch their creativity.

Do not worry about word choice and other editing concerns early in the writing process.

See revision as a search for errors.

See revision as the developing and reworking of their ideas.

When proofreading, often see what they want to have written, rather than what is on the page.

Have strategies for looking at what is actually on the page, rather than what is in their head.

Write for themselves and so leave much unsaid.

Write for an audience and so seek to make the flow of their ideas clear.

Think of writing as a linear process.

Think of writing as a recursive process.