How to go about the quintessential Pre-writing Process?

 What is Prewriting in the Writing Process?

Prewriting is the first and the most crucial stage of the writing process. The writers use it to determine what exactly they want to communicate, the purpose of the communication and the target audience. It comprises various steps which shall be further described in detail.

1. Select a topic.

Selecting a topic is the foremost task in prewriting. One should select a topic that one has a clear understanding of and sufficient knowledge about. In order to write an effective content, one should select a topic that is close to one's heart. One can also select topics that are popular or widely discussed among one's target audience. In that case, a keen understanding of the tastes and preferences of one's target audience is of vital importance. For example, if one's target audience consists of teenagers and young adults, they definitely won't be interested to read an article about the fiscal and monetary policy of India. On the other hand, they will be delighted with articles on date ideas, fashion advice, book recommendations, DIY gifts, celebrity gossip etc.

2. Write a Purpose Statement.

A purpose statement tells a reader what to expect from an article. It gives direction to an article by highlighting the most important points that are to be covered. It is usually short and precise, stating the focus and goals of the article in two or three lines. A purpose statement is written just after the title of the article and before the introduction. Writers often skip the purpose statement altogether and start directly with the introduction. Many of them incorporate the purpose statement within the introduction. 

3. Jot down ideas.

Writers should preferably keep a small notebook handy or install a Notes App to write down all the ideas as and when they come to them. Keeping a track of all the ideas prevents the risk of forgetting important points that might be crucial for the article. Jotting down ideas is like arranging all the bits and pieces of information that go into making an article complete and compact. While working on the main article, the writer can simply consult his notes and state the ideas one after the other with the requisite explanations.

4. Conduct research.

Research can be conducted in a number of ways. Writers can go through articles that have already been written on their topics by other writers. They might watch videos or listen to podcasts related to their topics. They can also consult other people in their circle and ask for their views on the chosen topic. Talking to people of the same age group as one's target audience can also prove beneficial. Reading books that might provide information related to one's content makes one's article more comprehensive and detailed. If that proves cumbersome, surfing the Internet always works.

5. Prepare the outline or structure of the content.

This is the step where the writer needs to organize his or her content. Outlining the content can be done in the form of a flowchart or a hierarchical structure. Outlining helps to build the framework of an article and makes it extremely easy for the writer to draft the actual article. Clustering is a technique that involves creating visual webs that explain the associations between different ideas. This is a kind of a diagrammatic organization of the rough content which the writer consults before drafting the fair content. Is it during this step that a writer has to assemble any pictures or illustrations that he or she might use in the article and decide where they are to be inserted.

These are the five basic steps of prewriting. It is quintessential for new writers to follow these steps so as to draft numerous articles quickly, efficiently and methodically.