Words,
Phrases,
Sentences,
Pictures in my brain
Some clear
Some jumbled . . .
This way or that?
Physically sorting materials,
Ideas,
Charts, and
Lessons.
Mentally sorting . . .
One path visible
One path unseen . . .
How do I know I’m making progress?
It’s too early for product . . .
The fact that I persevere
I continue
More jotting
More drafting
It’s all ugly
Collecting,
Sifting,
Rearranging,
That first draft.
Rewind.
That second draft.
Revise.
Have another go.
Another.
And yet another.
Revision will continue even through that first presentation.
Revision in planning . . .
Revision in drafting . . .
Revision in life . . .
How do you see evidence of your planning and drafting?
How do you allow the time for both the visible and the invisible planning and drafting?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Dana, Deb, Kathleen, Lisa, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
Resource - Full 
Right now all the ideas for next year are bouncing around in my head! I make lists and jots…Four more weeks to sort and sift through them!
I like the way you wrote this post!
I love lists and jots. However, the luxury of time is NOW gone!
Unfortunately! Now is the time to DO!
Great post. It reminded me of my writing process. I’ve become a much stronger writer since my first book, and I’m so proud of that. So are my kids. 🙂
Lisa,
It has taken me a lot of writing to say that mine has gotten stronger. Some times I still have really s****** first drafts. That’s life! Sometimes my draft is the result of more thinking! It all depends . . .
Thanks for saying that, Fran. I consider you an awesome writer. So, hearing that kind of thing from you really helps put things in perspective and I’m going to try and not beat up on myself so much. 🙂
Oh, Lisa! Thanks so much! You are so kind!
🙂 🙂 🙂
I usually do a lot of work in my head before I start writing anything down. But to be honest, work happens even before that. I think and jot ideas. Then, I mull things over before writing. In college I used to take notes then go for a swim before writing anything. I find that the think time helps everything gel.
Adrienne,
Some pieces are many weeks from beginning to end. Others flow much more smoothly. Not all are the same! That’s taken me TIME as a writer to notice!
I like your question: How do you allow the time for both the visible and the invisible planning and drafting? I realized as I taught last year that SO much was INVISIBLE. And I continue to reflect on ways to make it more visible so students and for their parents. But maybe a big part of it is acknowledging that both visible and invisible things occur as I plan! I like the time of your piece, especially. It shows the struggle of this important work so well!
Sally,
I’ve been struggling with how to capture all the revision with google docs – the revision feature in the document isn’t timely. So I’m working on once a week screen captures right now to see if there is as much change as I think. . . or if revisions have really become about the more nit-picky and unfriendly old editing!!!
❤
My invisible comes when I walk. Whenever I’m stuck I just grab the dog and we head for the trail. I think the invisible might just outweigh the visible!
Rose,
I know my invisible outweighs the visible! Walking and driving time both provide time to plan and/or reflect!
I think as teachers revision is ingrained into us whether it be lesson plans of just the normal happenings of a school day. In life I feel that every choice we make is a revision to our day. We might have plans, but than a choice is made and that plan changes to be replaced by a new one which is further influenced by other choices we make. Yes, these choices seem to be mindless and seamlessly shape our day, but they do.
Love that!
So much revision each and every day! Auto correction revisions that seem to be mindless and seamless are not a bad thing. Sometimes when the revision is so JARRING and seems so “out of control”, it seems easier to push back against the need for change.
Not necessarily so!!!
As I was reading I was thinking your final line. Seems we’re on the same wave length my friend. Happy beginning of the school year!
Julieanne,
Just because it looks like I am sitting here . . . it doesn’t mean I am a slacker. Sometimes I have to plan in my head first!
Loved your post. . . more than just the data!
Final line for me, too – the process of thinking/planning/doing begins!
Thanks, Tara!
I so hated turning the calendar to August. The end of the beginning. So now it’s just the DO, DO, DO!
LOL
Oh Fran! Yes. The thinking, the planning, the DOING! I’m exactly in this also. We haven’t started with students get, but SO much prepping! How can I feel behind already?
Yes, Dana. I am on Day 4 and feel so woefully behind!!! Such a crazy feeling!
❤ Here's to hoping that my advance thinking will pay off!
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