How To Make Papyrus Paper Papyrus paper was the first form of paper. It could be written on when it was tightly woven. Papyrus paper comes from papyrus plants. Papyrus plants grow all around the Nile River Valley which makes it very common in Egypt. How To Make Papyrus Paper Step 1: Cut long stalks of papyrus. Step 2: Soak the stalks in water until they start to rot. Step 3: Lay the stalks next to each other and then, more stalks on top, facing the other way. Step 4: Pound The stalks flat. Step 5: let them dry. On the paper, Egyptians wrote Hieroglyphics.