Charts in classrooms around the country divide the writing process into five steps:

1. Prewrite
2. Rough Draft
3. Revise
4. Edit
5. Publish

Reading and writing go together.
The first step of the writing process is actually the middle step of the creative process!

1. Reading is the first step - the caterpillar eats everything in sight.
   (Reading widely fills our mind with ideas and stories.)
2. Thinking is the middle step - the chrysalis wraps itself up and goes to sleep.
   (After we fill our mind with words, we need to let them digest.)
3. Writing is the last step - the butterfly spreads its wings..and flies!
   (The insight gained from reading and thinking gives us the words we need to write.)

Trying to write without reading and thinking leads to writer's block!