The Writing Process | Advanced (C-Level)
Stage 1. Step 1. Generating Ideas
Note. This lesson is part of an advanced English-as-a-second-language course. To start from the beginning, go to the table of contents.
Do Not Just Jump into Writing
A common mistake novice writers make is to stare at a blank page rather than first think about exactly what they want to write about.
You may think you can get the job done faster if you just start writing right away and make decisions as you go along. That is a big mistake! It ends up taking you longer.
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Without any preparation or planning, you likely end up getting writer’s block,” rambling, and getting frustrated. You may lose track of your central point and have to rewrite paragraphs. You may also have new ideas while you are writing only to forget them before including them in your work. Perhaps worse, you may end up having to rewrite portions of your work so that you can include the new ideas.
Resist the temptation to “just jump right in.” Instead, spend some time prewriting, planning, and coming up with a clear central point or thesis before you start writing.
Prewriting and Generating Ideas
Prewriting refers to tasks you complete before you even start writing. A number of prewriting techniques can help you explore a subject or topic, generate ideas about it, and start gathering and organizing your thoughts. These prewriting techniques can be adapted to generate ideas for any topic, for any purpose, and for any audience.
Prewriting techniques
Researching the topic
Spend some time learning about a topic or potential topic you are considering. You can do that by reading or watching videos about it. If the topic was not assigned, you may even realize during your research that another, related topic will be much more interesting to write about.
Freewriting
In freewriting, simply write whatever comes to mind on a topic for 10-20 minutes, using free association. Then, go over your ideas looking for patterns and highlight ideas you may want to develop further.
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is similar to freewriting in that you let one thought flow into the other, but you list ideas. Then you choose the idea you would like to develop into writing.
You can brainstorm on your own or with someone else.
Clustering
In clustering, write the subject or topic in a circle in the middle of a blank sheet of paper. Branching from that circle, write subtopics, or different aspects of the topic. Choose the “cluster” of ideas you would like to develop in writing.
Questioning
In questioning, you generate ideas by asking questions about the topic. Answering questions about a topic forces you to think about distinct aspects of the subject. It also helps you figure out what you may need to know about the topic (because you cannot answer your own questions). Then, go over your answers and select the portions that you would like to write about.
Discussing
Simply talk about your topic with other people and take notes. Discussing with others forces you to start thinking about the topic, and you may think of things that you might not think about otherwise. Later, go over the ideas and decide what you want to develop in writing.
You can discuss your topic with anyone. Discussing a topic even with someone who is not a writer or who does not know much about the topic can help you think through different ideas.
Your Own Technique
Your own technique is what you ultimately develop as you try any of the above techniques over time. Use the technique that works for you and for a particular task. Combine or adapt any of these techniques. If it helps you think through a topic and generate ideas, do it.
Video Activity
Watch generating ideas and planning and take good study notes.
Note. The second portion of this video includes information about planning your writing, which you will cover in the next lesson.
Writing tip
Generating ideas is a process you must engage in intentionally. You may have no ideas at first, but that is part of the process. You may come up with something great to write about by researching different topics, discussing your writing assignment with others, thinking about different possibilities, “sleeping on it," and so on.
Up Next: Stage 1. Step 2. Planning Your Writing
Continue the lesson to learn about planning your work.