A two-step self-servowriting process first writes an intermediate pattern based on a reference pattern, and then writes a final pattern based on the intermediate pattern, wherein the reference pattern can be a printed media pattern. Such an approach can be utilized to reduce the noise/runout, eliminate timing eccentricity, and increase the sample rate of the final pattern. The final pattern should be written as a 3-step-per-track, trimmed (or untrimmed)-burst pattern, while the intermediate pattern can be written as a 1.5-step-per-track, trimmed (or untrimmed)-burst pattern. Since half of the steps servowriting the intermediate pattern can be omitted under such a scenario, approximately half of the servowriting time can be saved. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.