Writers, you know the deal. Whether you specialize in prose, poetry, stage, or film, there’s always those magnificent, sky-bending highs and the life-purpose-questioning lows. (Everyone's had that time they cried in the shower, right? No? Just me?) Though I’ve recently gone through this process with a play, I’d argue that writing is very universal. Here are my ten highlights of the writing process.

1. The Brand New Idea

It’s comes to you in the weirdest place: mid laundry cycle, the eighteenth minute of your shower, Episode 11 of "Orange is the New Black." It feels so great, so new. You’re clearly a genius because you’ve just come up with the next big thing.

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2. The First Ten Pages

You’ve got your coffee/tea/red bull at your side, your computer open, and the perfect background playlist. (Thanks, Spotify!) You, sir, are ready to write. The clacking of your keyboard sounds so official. By page ten, you’re all but preparing your Tony speech. Someone call Alicia Keys, ‘cause this thing is on FIYAH.

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3. Mid-Point Block

The magic of those first ten pages have worn off and your tea exists in memory only. You're officially blocked. Lost. Everything you've written past page 30 is terrible. What happened to those sunny days of page one?

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4. First Draft: DONE!

You move past the block and get it done! You did it, kid. You got all the way through your story! It feels good. You accomplished something.

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5. Rewrite Until You Die

Fifth draft. Eighth draft. Twelfth draft. WHEN DOES IT END?!

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6. Someone reads it, and loves it!

"Hey, I’m not crazy! This might actually be good!" *Resurects Tony Speech*

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7. Someone reads it, and hates it.

Cocktail, anyone? *Rips Tony Speech to shreds*

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8. Even More Rewrites

Red Pens = Misery

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9. Final Draft

It’s time to call it quits. It’s not gonna get much better than this. (Whoa, that rhymed! Maybe my next endeavor should be songwriting? No? Okay.)

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10. Set it Free

It’s performed, or you hide it in your closet, never to be read again. Either way, it's out of revision and you have to let it fly without you. (Unless you're me, then you'll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands.)

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11. Lather, Rinse, Repeat

You do it all again, struggling to remember how in the world you accomplished it the first time.

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