Pre-Write Your Writing

Like most tasks, writing requires preparation; and to engage in it without some careful planning and forethought is to invite chaos and perhaps failure.  Preparation for writing is called pre-writing, in other words, tasks you complete before composing.  Writers are often surprised to find that the pre-writing phase of a project can often require more time than the actual composition phase.  Even though it takes more time, preparation ultimately makes the composition phase much easier.  It is worth the time and effort to do it.  Here are some preparation tasks to consider before starting any writing project:

• Establish your premise.  This means nailing down exactly what you want to say and why.  Ask yourself what the main point of your piece is and what you hope to accomplish with your message.  The elements of premise and purpose apply to any kind of writing, whether it is a story, an essay, a novel, an article, a poem, a report, or a letter.  In each instance, you must be clear about your message and your purpose in order to produce effective writing.  Try to craft a premise and purpose statement in one or two sentences.  The more concisely you can state them, the more clearly focused your writing will be.

• Develop your main points.  Once you have a clear handle on your message and its purpose, it's time to think about the main points you will have to develop in order to get your message across.  This involves highlighting crucial ideas that need emphasis and key ideas that bear repeating.  These are the building blocks for your piece, as without them, your message cannot be effectively and completely conveyed.  This is best done in listing and outline form in which you can identify main points and their corresponding sub-points.  It also allows you to figure out the best order in which to present your main points.  Some points may build on others, for example, or some points may carry more weight than others and need to be placed strategically. Knowing your main points and when and where to present them will give your piece the structure it needs to carry your message effectively.

• Develop your punch.  With message and structure worked out, it's time to return to your purpose and think about how to effectively accomplish your purpose.  This involves selecting the kind of detail that will bring your message to the forefront of readers' attention. This kind of detail helps you illustrate your main points, and thus your message, with the most impact.  It may involve examples, anecdotes, summaries, factoids, sidebars, visuals, layout, etc.  This is where you bring to bear all the tools in your writer's toolbox to craft a piece that grabs your readers and makes them pay attention.

• Check your facts.  Nothing sinks a piece faster than inaccurate information.  So, after you've decided what types of detail you need to pack your punch, check their validity.  Every example, fact, story, date, name, etc., that you use to illustrate your points needs to be checked and re-checked for accuracy and validity.  This means checking more than one source and making sure you are using the information accurately; in other words, not taking something out of context just to make your point seem more valid. Readers depend on writers to be accurate.  Make sure your writing measures up.

• Develop a guide.  You have clarified your message and purpose, listed or outlined your main points, selected the detail you need to convey those points effectively, and checked your facts. This preparation has taken time and effort, but its work is not done yet. Now you can use all of this valuable preparation as a guide for the composing process.  In whatever form works best for you (outline, lists or narrative), organize all of your preparation work into a guide you can follow as you compose.  This will help you stay on track with your composing process and also ensure that you don't leave out anything crucial.  With this information in front of you as you write, you will be constantly reminded of your message and purpose and be less likely to stray from them, resulting in more focused writing. 

Writing is work, and like most work, requires careful preparation in order to be effective and successful.  Taking the time to engage in pre-writing activities prior to actually composing helps to ensure that success.  Knowing your message and purpose keeps your writing focused and clear. Having a good grasp of the main points and details you need to illustrate those points gives your writing greater impact on readers.  Checking the accuracy and validity of your facts gives your writing the credibility it needs to influence readers.  Using pre-writing as both preparation and guide to the composing process makes sense and makes your writing easier for you and more valuable for your readers.