Handout 10

Starting the Writing Process

You can try the textbook formula:

1. State your thesis
2. Write an outline.
3. Write the first draft.
4. . Revise and polish… but sometimes that doesn't work!

Instead, you can try one or more of these strategies:

Ask yourself what your purpose is for writing about the subject. There are many "correct" things to write about for any subject, but you need to narrow down your choices. For example, your topic might be "ethnic food." At this point, you and your potential reader are asking the same question, "So what?" Why should you write about this, and why should anyone read it?

Ask yourself how you are going to achieve this purpose.   How, for example, would you achieve your purpose if you wanted to describe some ethnic food as the best you have ever tasted? Would you identify the specific ingredients? Would you describe the appearance and smell of the food? Would your comments go beyond a physical description to include your emotional responses to the food?

Start the ideas flowing

Brainstorm. Gather as many good and bad ideas, suggestions, examples, sentences, etc. as you can. Perhaps friends can join in. Jot down everything that comes to mind, including material you are sure you will throw out. Be ready to keep adding to the list at odd moments as ideas continue to come to mind. Keep a separate piece of paper handy to jot down these ideas as soon as you think of them.

Talk to your audience, or pretend that you are being interviewed by someone -- or by several people, if possible. This will help you to consider a subject or topic from several different points of view. What questions would the other person ask? If it helps, you can think of the topic in terms of teaching the subject to a group or class.

Analogies. See if you can find a fresh analogy that opens up a new set of ideas. Build your analogy by using the word like. For example, if you are writing about violence, what kind if violence are we talking about? Is that violence like two people screaming at each other, or violence like two groups shooting at each other or violent like a bad winter storm?

Nutshell your whole idea.  Tell it to someone in three or four sentences.

Diagram your major points somehow.  Make a tree, outline, or whatever helps you to see a schematic representation of your ideas. This will show you areas that may be lacking in development and content.

Write a first draft.  Then, if possible, put it away. Later, read it aloud or to yourself. Consider the ideas as if they were someone else’s. Make sure everything is understandable. You will probably need to clarify or add more information.

Be Flexible.  You may find yourself jumping back and forth among these various strategies.   You may find that one works better than another. You may find yourself trying several strategies at once

Back to Top                    Back to Contents Page