Back to Writing and Editing: Drafting
University of Michigan

Writing and Editing: Drafting

This third course in the “Good with Words: Writing and Editing” series will give you a number of strategies to help with what is often the most intimidating, even paralyzing part of the writing process: getting started. You’ll learn about the “planning fallacy” and “temptation bundling.” You’ll get a chance to experiment with “freewriting” and “writing before you are ready.” And you’ll continue to benefit, through our ongoing “Good Sentences” and “Takeaways” segments, from the models and advice of a diverse set of writers. As with the other three courses in this series, you will also get access to a wide range of books and other resources you can use even after you finish the course. These include: (1) the readings and exercises provided to the students who have taken the in-person version of this course at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago; (2) two digital libraries of excellent writing from a diverse collection of journalists, scientists, novelists, poets, historians, and entrepreneurs; and (3) a monthly “Good Sentences” email.

Status: Overcoming Obstacles
Status: Writing
BeginnerCourse14 hours

Featured reviews

CM

4.0Reviewed Jun 12, 2023

Great course for getting more into drafting. Course is not focused on the mechanics of drafting, but rather considerations to have about writing.

JM

5.0Reviewed Jan 3, 2021

Patrick Barry has put together a terrific series of courses! Skills in the nuances of writing, organizing complex ideas, planning, how to get around 'blocks' and get started. Well worth it!

JA

4.0Reviewed Aug 8, 2022

Excellent content with good insightful exercises and tests

PK

5.0Reviewed Nov 5, 2022

If you're trying to write better, draft better, or edit better - this course is definitely for you! Prof. Barry also provides a lot of great extra material that are useful and practical.

DF

5.0Reviewed Aug 17, 2021

T​his course is really helpful. I get the knowledge on how to explore my writing and editing works.

MY

5.0Reviewed Dec 16, 2020

Excellent course! Tons of great tips on writing and editing!Thanks!

MT

5.0Reviewed Jul 5, 2020

This course is helping me make my Critical Reading and Writing class for freshmen stronger.

RL

5.0Reviewed Oct 21, 2021

This course's learning material is somewhat thight (at least for me), but Prof Barry make it easy to understand

JP

5.0Reviewed Mar 1, 2025

Well structured course, I appreciate the high level english syntax and grammar topics broken down into simpler concepts.

NH

5.0Reviewed Jan 16, 2023

Professor Barry is excellent at teaching, giving great inspirations to me.

JI

5.0Reviewed Nov 8, 2020

This course opened me up to more ways to write creatively; emphasis on the use of the semicolon and however.

CR

5.0Reviewed Sep 3, 2020

Fantastic, well worth the investment for anyone who wants to learn to communicate their ideas better.

All reviews

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Eduardo Jodi Kuninari
5.0
Reviewed Nov 29, 2020
Maria J
5.0
Reviewed Feb 12, 2021
Uzair
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Reviewed Aug 9, 2021
Mark Lombardi
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Reviewed Mar 28, 2021
Madison Massey
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Reviewed Dec 26, 2022
Sarah Jedlicka
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Reviewed Oct 2, 2023
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Reviewed Sep 9, 2021
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Reviewed Oct 10, 2021
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Reviewed Jun 12, 2021
Kat Zdravkov
5.0
Reviewed Jul 10, 2020
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Reviewed Oct 1, 2020
Maleeha Bhatti
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Reviewed Nov 16, 2020
Jennifer Marshall
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Reviewed Jan 3, 2021
Panaphorn Kps.
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Reviewed Nov 6, 2022
Bernice Asare-Badu
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Reviewed Jan 25, 2021
Mikaela Cole
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Reviewed Oct 11, 2020
joseph kowalewski
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j powell
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Reviewed Mar 2, 2025
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Reviewed Apr 14, 2021
Roro Arum Larasati
5.0
Reviewed Oct 22, 2021