The terms "writing" and "writing process" are often used too narrowly and reduced to "writing down". In fact, there is much more to writing a text. Many researchers therefore prefer the term "text production" (instead of "writing"), as this can be defined more broadly. We are taking this broad view here. Reading, writing and interacting with others are basic actions. We read, write, or talk to others with two goals in mind: In the first case, reading, writing or interaction is done in order to gain knowledge. We refer to this as "knowledge-generating actions". In the second case, we read, write, or converse with a speciifc writing project in mind. This is called "product-oriented actions". If you would like to learn more about reading techniques, go to the Reading and Literature Management pages.
What you will find on this page.
Generating Knowledge
As part of a text production project, you gain new knowledge. You research literature, read, think, and delve into a topic. During this time, you read texts for various purposes. You may want to learn a method, you may want to know what others have already said about your topic, etc. Through reading, you learn about the discourse on your topic, establish relationships between texts and/or discourses, and little by little, you develop your own position and voice. You may read "with a pen in hand", take notes, write down fragments of thoughts, develop and discard initial outlines, etc. You may talk to friends, fellow students, or other people you trust about what moves you.
The ways in which writers (such as yourself) gain knowledge are diverse. One such method is writing down what you have learned. Academics who focus on the the writing process have identified many strategies for developing and/or clarifying ideas. The basic principle for these techniques is that they are not geared to the requirements of the writing task, but rather, give the writer room to play. You can practices these exercises in any language you wish. We also encourage you to ignore other formalities (such as Headings and page formatting) when you're just starting out. Research into writing science shows that this form of knowledge-generating writing is not a waste of time, but rather quite efficient. If, for example, you must submit a paper in French, but you find French challenging, write your thoughts down first in your mother language, so that you don't forget your ideas.
Interacting with another person, i.e. talking to them or communicating in writing, also supports idea generation. Chatting with another person, forces us to clarify our ideas and explain them more clearly than we might, when we are just thinking to ourselves. It doesn't matter if the other person is familiar with the content - you will have a firmer grasp of the concept simply by speaking your ideas aloud.
we need a different source for the english page Lesetipp für literarisch Interessierte: Heinrich von Kleist (1805): Über die allmähliche Verfertigung der Gedanken beim Reden. Gutenberg-DE Edition 16 <https://www.projekt-gutenberg.org/kleist/gedanken/gedanken.html>
Product - oriented Activities
Of course, you must eventually write a text that you can submit. Usually, the assignment comes with some criteria, such as the language in which you should write, the length, citation conventions, etc. All of these requirements will influence the way you write. It's okay if you feel uncertain of yourself at points during the writing process - this is normal. After all, writing is a learning process.
Product-oriented writing cannot be done without reading processes. There are two forms of reading: reading other people's texts and reading your own text.
A scientific text always needs to be linked to scientific literature, i.e., peer-reviewed articles, primary sources, etc. You do this through quotations, paraphrases, and references to further literature (LINK TO CITATIONS PAGE). When engaging in 'product-oriented reading,' you're not reading to learn a new idea - you're reading to see if this other author supports or agrees with your own ideas. You check whether author X actually formulated the idea in the way you need it. You can also look for a specific quotation and check the page number. Then, you can insert the quotation, paraphrase, or reference into your text.
If you don't find what you're looking for, or if your ideas conflict with the author's ideas and you start reading the text in an understanding-oriented way, you leave the product-oriented action space, and reading becomes knowledge-generating again, and your writing process gets interrupted. This is the reason why many writing guides recommend NOT double-checking sources or quotes immediately, lest you get distracted and your writing flow stops. So, if you find that you aren't writing because you are reading too much, the tip is: do not interrupt product-oriented writing. If you want to insert a reference, a quote, or a paraphrase into your text, write "***INSERT ANOTHER QUOTE FROM X HERE!*** or "***Source???!!!" to remind yourself to come back later.
Tip: Find which writing habits work best for you. Are you most productive at the library? At home? In a cafe? Do you feel accomplished after writing for two hours? After finishing a section? After 1000 words? Decide on which system works best for you, and then try to stick to those habits. Just remember, nobody can write productively for eight hours a day. At some point, everyone is "empty" and needs a break. For some extra help, you can find some writing exercises here link to Writing techniques and exercises.
Reading your own text increases more and more towards the end. At the end of the revision phase, you will no longer read the work of other authors. This limitation is necessary in order to complete a writing project. Depending on which type of writer (LINK) you are, ending the 'research phase' will be easier or more difficult for you. What you have written yourself is then familiar - and therefore boring. But reading your own text is necessary so that you can make sure that it actually meets your expectations.
Tip: Many writers have difficulty proofreading their own texts. This is because we prefer to read what we think should be in the text rather than what is actually in it. The distance is missing. Ask a friend to read your work to have a 'second pair of eyes' look over your writing. Alternatively, don't look at your writing project for at least a week, then you can return to it with a fresh perspective. try reformatting your text by choosing a different font and/or font size. This will break the text up differently and allow you to look at it 'anew.'
Note: Writing Center employees only ever read excerpts from texts at the micro level and refuse requests to proofread finished texts in their entirety. Our text comments are aimed at revisions, which is why you should always plan time for this.