Beyond the Blog with Pamela Beach

The question I get asked most often, besides “What do you do about writer’s block?”, is “What does your writing process actually look like?” It’s a great question because for many, the act of writing can seem like a mysterious art, a lightning strike of inspiration that either happens or doesn’t.

The truth? It’s far less magic and far more method.

While every writer’s journey from idea to finished piece is unique, most of us rely on a structured process to build our work. It’s not a rigid set of rules, but more like a trusted path through a forest. Today, I want to walk you down my path.

Think of the total time spent on a piece, Ttotal​, as a sum of its parts:

Ttotal​=Tbrainstorm​+Tdraft​+Tedit​

For me, the time spent on editing is often the largest variable. Let’s break it down.

Phase 1: Brainstorming – The Art of the Mess

This is the “no bad ideas” phase. The goal isn’t to write well, but to get the raw material out of my head and onto a page. It’s about quantity over quality.

• The Perpetual Idea Catcher: I carry a small notebook everywhere, but my primary tool is a notes app on my phone. An interesting quote, a weird dream, a question I can’t answer, a surprising statistic—it all goes in. This is my well of ideas to draw from when I’m staring at a blank page.
• Mind Mapping: For bigger articles or projects, I am a huge fan of mind mapping. I start with the central topic in the middle of a page (or a digital canvas). Then, I create branches for main ideas, and smaller twigs off those branches for supporting details, facts, or questions. It’s a visual way to see the connections between different parts of my argument before I’ve written a single sentence.
• Freewriting: I set a timer for 10-15 minutes and I just… write. I don’t stop, I don’t correct typos, and I don’t judge the output. The point is to bypass the internal critic and just let the thoughts flow. The result is often a jumbled mess, but within that mess are the golden nuggets that will form the core of the piece.

Phase 2: Drafting – Building the Skeleton

This is where I give the mess from my brainstorming session some bones. My mantra for this phase comes from the brilliant Anne Lamott: embrace the “shitty first draft.”

The goal of the first draft is not to be good; it’s to be done.

• Outline First: Using my mind map or freewriting notes, I create a simple, bullet-point outline. It might just be an intro, three main points, and a conclusion. This is my roadmap. It keeps me from getting lost in the weeds.
• Turn Off the Inner Editor: The single most important part of drafting is to resist the urge to edit as you go. Correcting a comma here or rewording a sentence there kills your momentum. The critical, editing part of your brain is different from the creative, drafting part. Let one work at a time.
• Use Placeholders: If I can’t think of the perfect word, or if I need to look up a statistic, I don’t stop. I use a placeholder like [TK] (a journalism term for “to come”) or [find data here] and keep moving. The goal is to get to the end of the draft. I can fix the small stuff later.

Phase 3: Editing – Where the Magic Really Happens

Many people think writing is the drafting part, but for me, writing is truly rewriting. This is where the real work—and the real magic—begins. I break my editing into distinct passes.

1. The Cooling-Off Period: I never, ever edit a piece immediately after I finish drafting it. I need to let it sit for at least a day, sometimes a week for bigger projects. This “cooling-off” period allows me to come back to it with fresh eyes, seeing the piece as a reader would, not as the writer who just wrestled it into existence.
2. The Macro Edit (The Helicopter View): My first read-through isn’t for grammar or spelling. I’m looking at the big picture.
   • Does the argument make sense?
   • Is the structure logical?
   • Is anything crucial missing?
   • Should I reorder any paragraphs for better flow? This is where I’m not afraid to move huge chunks of text around or delete entire paragraphs that don’t serve the piece’s main goal.
3. The Micro Edit (The Line Edit): Once the structure is solid, I zoom in. I read the entire piece aloud. This is my secret weapon. Your ears will catch what your eyes miss: clunky sentences, repetitive words, and awkward phrasing. I focus on:
   • Clarity: Is this sentence as clear as it can be?
   • Conciseness: Can I say the same thing in fewer words? (The answer is almost always yes).
   • Word Choice: Is there a stronger verb or a more precise noun I could use?
4. The Proofread (The Final Polish): This is the very last step. I’m no longer reading for content, only for errors. I hunt for typos, punctuation mistakes, and formatting glitches. I often change the font or text size for this pass to trick my brain into seeing it differently.

Your Process is Your Own

This is the process that works for me. It’s a system I’ve refined over years of writing. The most important thing to remember is that there is no single “right” way to write. Some people outline meticulously, others dive right in. The key is to find a process that helps you overcome the friction of the blank page and allows you to get your ideas out into the world.

So, experiment. Steal parts of my process that resonate with you. Discard what doesn’t. The best writing process is the one that you can stick with. Now, go get started.

If you want to learn more, check out my book, From Spark to Story: A Behind-the-Scenes Guide to Writing Your Novel, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJS84B6S

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