Jesmyn Ward Discusses Her Writing Process and Teaching Philosophy

Ward highlighted her admiration for the passion exhibited by her students, who write in various genres, including young adult and fantasy. She expressed enthusiasm for helping them refine their work.

In discussing her own writing method, Ward described herself as a linear writer, moving from the beginning to the end of a draft without revising as she goes. She adheres to a routine of writing for at least two hours a day, five days a week, which she finds essential for maintaining her creative flow. Balancing family responsibilities, she often segments her writing hours, working early in the morning or whenever her children are occupied.

Once she completes a draft, Ward employs a unique revision strategy. After allowing the draft to sit for a month, she reviews it, taking notes on necessary changes. Her focus during revisions is methodical; she typically works on one aspect at a time from a longer list of observations. This process may involve twelve to thirteen rounds of revisions before presenting her work to trusted first readers—fellow writers she has met through her education.

Following feedback, she undertakes further revisions before submitting the manuscript to her editor, acknowledging that perfection is elusive in a rough draft. While challenging, she finds revising to be an enjoyable process, centered on enhancing what already exists on the page.