Consider portfolio grading, especially of assignments with multiple drafts. You don't have to put a number or letter grade on every assignment, or on every stage of every assignment. Particularly true of experimental or exploratory stages of writing. Writing is elegant and easy for real writers. It's hard and messy for me.
Writing is hard and messy for nearly everyone.
If it's too easy, they're not doing it right. Provide a realistic time schedule. Help make students aware of time management in planning, researching, writing assignments. Final version Have students build in small rewards during the writing process to help themselves keep at the work.