Integrating new insights into the writing process, and drawing upon cognitive psychology, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics, this monograph develops the transactional theory of writing by using knowledge of the reading process as a metaphor. Chapters include: (1) "The Need for a New Theory of the Writing Process"; (2) "Bases for a Transactional Theory of the Writing Process"; (3) "A Transactional Theory of the Writing Process"; (4) "Engaging in Theory Critique"; (5) "A Transactional View of Writing Instruction"; and (6) "A New Look at the Relationships between Reading and Writing." A list of 182 references and an appendix containing definitions of terms for a transactional theory of the writing process are attached. (RS)