Understanding how the creative process works helps students. They expect their story to be written in one sitting and that's not how it works!

The creative process has three steps.

1. First you must feed the muse by reading and living. You can't write about nothing. (This is often the cause of writer's block!)

2. The second step is thinking. You come up with ideas. You make a plan. You have some quiet to give your intuition time to mull things over.

3. Then you use your voice and begin to write. Yes, writing is the LAST step!

The creative process can be seen in the life cycle of a butterfly.

The caterpillar eats and eats. (Writers read.)

The caterpillar eats until he can eat no more and then he sleeps. During the quiet of sleep, the caterpillar is transformed. (Writers think.)

When the transfomation is complete, the caterpillar emerges as a butterfly. Now he can fly! (Writers write!)