Stages of Writing

From the same site in the previous post

                      BEFORE WRITING
 (brainstorm & discuss to generate ideas; select a topic, decide the purpose & audience; organize your ideas)
                        MAKE A DRAFT
(write a 1st draft, not perfect or final, will contain mistakes, do not worry about small details... just write!)
                              REVISE
   (consider content, focus and organize your ideas and then improve what you wrote, make it clearer, change words & information )
                               EDIT
   (“the details” - correct and improve spelling, punctuation, grammar, clarity of text; add or take away information, fix mistakes)
                             PUBLISH
  (write a final draft, presenting to public, determine how your work will be presented, make it look good!)

Helpful Writing Tips

Taken from www.TimesaversForTeachers.com

When writing, consider the following questions:
1.  Is my introduction, relevant, interesting and attention-catching?
2.  Have I written using paragraphs?
3.  Have I written using sentences of different type?
4.  Have I used appropriate verb tenses?
5.  Am I writing from a clear point of view?
6.  Have I kept on topic and not wandered?
7.  Have I included interesting comparisons?
8.  Are my ideas expressed in a clear and interesting language? Have I avoided the use of slang words?
9.  Do my sentences flow, or are they too long/short?
10. Is there any unnecessary repetition of words or ideas?
11. Are my thoughts and ideas organized in a logical sequence? Can the reader easily follow and understand what I am trying to say?
12. Have I proofread my work and corrected any spelling and punctuation errors?
13. Have I written an effective and interesting conclusion?
14. Is my work polished and ready for public presentation?

IN A NUTSHELL

If I may venture my opinion, when all is said and done, it would ill become me to suggest that I should come down like a ton of bricks, as large as life and twice as natural, and make a mountain out of a molehill on this issue.
From time immemorial, in point of fact, the object of the exercise, as sure as eggs are eggs, has been, first and foremost, to take the bull by the horns and spell it out loud and clear. At the end of the day, the point
of the exercise is to tell it like it is, lay it on the line, put it on the table – putting it in a nutshell, drop a bombshell and get down to the nitty-gritty, the bottom line. I think I can honestly say, without fear or favor, that I have left no stone unturned, kept my nose firmly to the grindstone, and stuck to my last, lock stock and barrel, hook
line and sinker. This is not to beat about the bush or upset the apple-cart, but to give the green light to the calm before the storm, to hit the nail on the head, to bite the bullet, and thus at the drop of a hat to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.That’s it.
Take it or leave it. On your own head be it. All good things must come to an end. I must love you and leave you. I kid you not. Don’t call us, we’ll cal you. And I don’t mean maybe.

Expressing Oneself

Read this man's speech. See how soon you can tell what he is talking about. In it he includes over fifty variations on the words say and speak. See how many of them you can incorporate into your own use of English.

'Ladies and Gentlemen!
I hope you will excuse me for butting into your conversations in this way. I know nobody likes being interrupted at such a time, but I have been asked to say a few words, make a speech if you like, on this extra-special occasion. And may I say first what a pleasure and honour it is to have the opportunity to address you like this, this afternoon.
You know, ever since you first hinted to me that something of this sort might be on the cards, I have been debating with myself constantly as to how I could best express the sentiments I want to convey to you, here, this afternoon. And then when you actually broke the news and announced a date, I began to consult friends and acquaintances who have been in this position, discussing the subject with them at length and in detail.
I can reveal today, however, that the problems of phrasing my message have not been solved. I suppose if I were an actor, I could recite a relevant speech of Shakespeare's. Were I a priest, I might preach to you, but I fear it would be a poor sermon. As a politician, I could read out a prepared statement and then go on repeating 'No comment'. If you were a class of students, I might give you a lecture. Were you secretaries, I could dictate what I have to say. If we had more time, we could chatter and gossip together for hours. But you and I are none of these things, so I shall have to put my message across in more ordinary terms. I suppose I could simply declare that this is one of the happiest days of my life and claim that I never thought I could be as happy as I am today. Or I could just state a few useless facts and figures and leave it at that. I could, on the other hand, refer to what great men — and women — have said or written on this theme, and just quote a few famous lines. I might also mention my own experience, reminisce a little, recount a few anecdotes, tell a few stories and make some significant comment on young people today.
Standing here, I can assure you, my main fear is not that I shall 'dry up' -1 have already uttered too many words on this theme to be at a loss for words now — but that I shall, in a rash moment, blurt out what I have to say, gabble away for a few seconds and leave too much unsaid, unspoken. Then again, while I stand here thinking aloud, arguing with myself, contradicting myself perhaps, you will no doubt be thinking, 'Why's the old man rambling on like this without getting to the point?' *Why doesn't he just come out with it?' you'll be saying. 'Spit it out!' I hear you cry.
Well, time marches on, and I can see that you have no need of explanations or illustrations from me; no account of my own life is required, no descriptions or recommendations. I shall not bother to sum up what I have said so far. All I should like to add on this — how shall I put it? - extra-special occasion is: I hope you'll both be very happy.'