Which of the following is NOT a step in the writing process?

The writing process typically consists of several structured steps to help writers develop their ideas and improve their work. The common steps include brainstorming, where ideas are generated; planning, which involves organizing those ideas into a coherent structure; drafting, where the writer begins to write the initial version of the text; and revising, where changes are made to improve clarity, coherence, and overall quality.

Reading aloud, while a beneficial practice, is not formally recognized as a step in the writing process. Instead, it is more of a technique that writers may use after the drafting and revising stages to help identify issues such as awkward phrasing or areas where the writing does not flow smoothly. It can be part of the revision process, but it does not constitute a formal step in the writing process itself. Thus, this option correctly identifies an action that does not fit within the main steps of writing as traditionally structured.