The Writing Process
Writers do not sit down and hammer out magic on their first try. Some high school writers try to survive that way, but there is a better way--by honoring the Writing Process. The Writing Process involves three different steps: Pre-Writing, Drafting and Revising.
Throughout the quarter, we have done and will continue to do warm-ups. For a writing class, I typically start each unit with warm-ups that could develop into final, graded drafts. Pre-writing can happen in a number of ways.
Check out these Pre-Writing Strategies:
http://blog.writeathome.com/index.php/2011/08/3-prewriting-strategies-for-any-writing-project/
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/index.html
At some point, you will have to decide what you will write and to what you will commit. During the drafting phase, writers try to come up with a complete piece--with a beginning, middle and an end.
We will peer edit all of our stories to some extent. After the peer edit, students will need to revise their drafts and submit a "graded draft." I will post a grade and expect most student to complete further revisions.
Check out what Purdue University's Online Writing Lab has to say about the writing process: