WHAT IS THE WRITING PROCESS?

No writer can generate a perfect draft on the first attempt.

Most employ a writing process, in which they begin with
prewriting and invention, then outlining, composing,
revising and editing. Though the aforementioned might
suggest a linear process, it is usually recursive. For
instance, you might end up going back to the prewriting
phase and do some brainstorming even while writing the
actual draft. The general rule of thumb is to invest some
time brainstorming and writing a rough outline before
writing the essay. Also, save editing for last. Sometimes it
may be too difficult to juggle developing your ideas along
with attending to grammar so save editing for the very last
step.

WHAT IS PREWRITING?

The prewriting stage, when you begin generating ideas on

your topic without focusing too much on organization and
correctness, allows you to begin creatively and to truly
explore the scope and potential of your topic. Also,
breaking the writing process down into stages makes it less
stressful and more manageable and gives you time to figure
out exactly what you want to develop and explore in your
paper.

There are some successful prewriting strategies:

1. Freewriting
2. Brainstorming
3. Journalist Questions
4. Listing
5. Clustering/Mapping

1 .What Is Freewriting?

Freewriting is a technique that helps you generate content

for an essay. Freewriting is writing continuously, letting
thoughts unselfconsciously flow (often for about 5 to 10
minutes) without regard to spelling, grammar, style etc.,
and no corrections are made. Because there are no
restrictions on structure/format or length, freewriting
allows you the freedom to discover what you want to write
about without worrying about rules or expectations.

Why Is It Important?

• It provides you with the raw material to help you start

writing an essay.
• It gives you confidence in your ability to explore a
topic.
• It helps you develop your own unique writing voice
and promote a solid flow, or rhythm, to your
sentences.
• It gives you an easy way to begin any piece of writing
and helps you surpass writer’s block.

How To Do It?

Start with a blank piece of paper or blank computer screen.

Give yourself a minimum of five minutes of uninterrupted
time to freewrite. Write a few words at the top of the page
to get you started and keep you focused, such as the general
topic of your essay assignment or a quote from the text that
is significant to you. Now begin writing whatever comes
into your head when you think about this quote, the topic
and/or the assignment that you have been given.

Try to keep writing without stopping, crossing-out, or

erasing. Even if what you are writing seems like it isn’t
“correct” or “perfect,” keep going. This is the key to
freewriting – to write freely! Go for five minutes without
stopping. If you have more to say, keep going for as long
as you can. Don’t evaluate what you are writing, or you
will stop the free flow of thoughts and ideas.

Once you have a page or more of freewriting, read back

over it and look for ideas or points that you might include
in your essay. Underline or circle sentences or groups of
sentences that you especially like and think you may be
able to use in your essay. Use your freewriting as a
springboard for your thinking about this assignment,
directing you toward further reading, research and the
writing of the first draft of the essay.
2. WHAT IS BRAINSTORMING?

Brainstorming is like freewriting in that you write

down whatever comes to mind without stopping, but it is
different because it looks more like a list of words and
phrases than a string of sentences.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

• It helps you summarize the main concepts in the

reading
• It helps you see the main ideas that captured your
interest in the reading
• It can make complex reading more accessible
• It is fast and easy

How To Do It?

Look back at your freewrite and capture the important

concepts into words and phrases.

3. Journalistic Questions (5 W's and H)

“Journalist questions” are the “5Ws and the 1H”—who,
what, when, where, and especially why and how. The who,
what, when, and where are relevant to summaries while the
how and why prompt you to examine the “so what?!” Use
ideas from the text, your freewrite and your brainstorm and
form them into questions. Through answering these
questions, you can discover interesting information that
you can use for writing.

Why are they important?

They help you to gather detailed information and fully

analyze your subject from all angles.

How To Create Them:

Look back at the text and then at your prewriting and think
of the questions that were raised for you or circle concepts
or ideas you would like to know more about and then form
questions around them.

4. Listing
Listing involves creating a bullet-point list of ideas, topics,
or pieces of information that relate to your main idea.

Why is it important?

This technique helps you organize your thoughts clearly

and concisely. You can see all your ideas in one place and
start to categorize them.

How To Do It:

Start with a blank piece of paper or computer screen. Stay

focused by keeping your essay assignment and/or the
annotated text you are analyzing next to you. Begin
making a list of everything you think you would like to
write about to fulfill the assignment or to respond to in the
text.
Use keywords or phrases; it’s not necessary to write in
complete sentences when listing. Using a bullet-list format
is helpful.
Once you have made your list, go back and organize it into
logical units; for example, you can use a numbering system
to indicate what you want to include in your introductory
paragraph, your body paragraphs and your conclusion.
Arrange the ideas in the body paragraphs into a logical
order. To illustrate your body paragraph points, you can
add quotes, examples, or information to further research.
You may find it useful to make a second, more detailed list
or you may decide to turn your list, once it is full enough,
into an outline.

5. Clustering / Mapping

Also known as mind mapping, clustering involves creating

a visual map of your ideas. You start with a central idea and
branch out into related topics and subtopics.

Why is it important?

• It works particularly well for visual learners.

• It helps you to see the most important ideas.
• It helps you to see how ideas are related.
• It helps you organize your ideas.
• It helps you start to see potential paragraphs forming.

How To Do It:
To create a cluster, first write your topic or question in the
middle of the page and draw a large circle around it. Then
in medium circles, write the supporting points that respond
to the writing task, drawing lines linking each to the main
center circle. Then, in small circles, write the evidence and
analysis that illustrate each supporting point, drawing lines
that link each to the appropriate supporting point. All
should be expressed in phrases that capture the essence of
the idea. You can add additional levels of smaller circles
as you provide more specific clarifying details.
Conclusion
Using these pre-writing techniques can enhance your
ability to organize ideas and start writing with clarity and
focus. Whether you free write to get your creative juices
flowing or use mapping to see how your ideas connect,
each method gives you a strong foundation for drafting and
polishing your work. The more you practice these
techniques, the smoother your writing process will
become.

Sample
Let's say we need to write an essay about climate change.
Here's how each process can be used:

1. Free Writing:

Start by writing continuously about climate change for 5–

10 minutes without worrying about grammar, structure, or
coherence. The goal is to let ideas flow. Example:

"Climate change is a big issue. There’s melting ice,

extreme weather, and rising sea levels. I wonder how many
species are endangered because of this. People keep talking
about renewable energy, but is it enough? The future of the
planet seems uncertain..."

2. Brainstorming:

After free writing, start brainstorming more specific ideas

around climate change. Example:

• Causes of climate change

• Effects on polar ice caps
• Impact on agriculture
 • Government policies
• Public awareness and education
• Possible solutions (renewable energy, carbon capture,
etc.)

3. Journalist Questions:

Use the five W’s (Who, What, Where, When, Why) and H
(How) to deepen your understanding of the topic. Example:

1. Who is most affected by climate change?

2. What are the main causes of climate change?
3. Where is climate change happening the most?
4. When did climate change become a major issue?
5. Why is action against climate change still slow?
6. How can individuals contribute to mitigating climate
change?

4. Listing:
Make a list of the ideas or topics you want to cover in your
essay based on your brainstorming and journalist
questions. Example:

• Greenhouse gases and their role in climate change

• Melting polar ice and rising sea levels
• Impact on agriculture and food security
• Government initiatives and policies
• Public awareness campaigns
• Renewable energy solutions

5. Clustering/Mapping:

Create a mind map or cluster of these ideas. Place "Climate

Change" in the center and draw branches for each major
subtopic. From each subtopic, add smaller branches for
related ideas. Example:

Climate Change

1.Causes

Greenhouse gases
Deforestation

2.Effects

Melting ice

Extreme weather

Sea level rise

3. Solutions

Renewable energy

Reforestation

Government policies

This combination of processes helps refine your thoughts,

generate new ideas, and organize your writing structure.