Writing rarely moves in a linear fashion from start to finish. Writing is thinking and it requires time. Writing is a process that moves forward in phases. Once you know your own writing style, you can anticipate and predict many things that affect your writing style.
Taija Tuominen, an author and a writing educator divides writer types into planners and innovators. An innovator writes without a plan, trusting in inspiration. Once the inspiration has passed, an innovator doesn't have enough will to finish the text. A planner on the other hand can't get started with writing and focuses instead on research and studying different sources.
In practice there are more writer types like procrastinators and perfectionists. The speed at which we read and write are different for everyone, as is the style of writing. Some people say they can only write when inspiration strikes, or when a deadline is near. These beliefs rarely lead to a desired outcome, however.
Some writers are methodical and write in a very orderly fashion without even realizing it. Many start planning out the text by memorizing random thoughts. Some start with reading and writing notes. Both of these are a part of process writing. For some writers the style of process writing may seem like too much work, because editing text might feel frustrating. Studying in a University of Applied Sciences presents new writing challenges. This is why it is recommended to take time to figure out what kind of writer you are, so you recognize your own writing style.
You can't write academic texts in a single sitting, and supplementing existing text also takes time. This is why it is recommended to read instructions carefully and write the text according to them. As a general rule, texts that don't follow instructions and guidelines are a sent back to be supplemented. Then you need to use time to rework the text. It is recommended to take time to plan out the text beforehand.
Writing consists of several stages. Firstly, you should ponder the following questions:
Several descriptions of process writing exists. The following description and graphic are based on the texts by Viskari (2009), Kniivilä, Lindblom-Ylänne and Mäntynen (2007) and Vilkka (2015), (Vilkka 2020, 126-127)
