Writing Smart, 3rd edition - Princeton Review 2018

Getting ready to write

The pre-writing process

Writing often requires a bit of “pre-work.” Once you know what you need to write, you have to prepare, which might mean creating an outline or simply jotting down some notes on paper to organize your thoughts. You don’t necessarily need to write down every detail; often, the process of writing will help you discover exactly what you want to say and refine your thoughts. Still, having a general plan will help keep your writing organized and to the point. This chapter covers a few aspects of the pre-writing process.

Do your research

If your writing includes research, it is best to get a substantial chunk of the research done before you begin writing (we know you know, just a little reminder). Often information you discover as you research will alter what you might have written, so avoid endless revisions and get as much information as you can, first.

Make an outline

If you are writing anything longer than a paragraph, it is advisable to construct an outline. An outline describes paragraph by paragraph what you intend to say; it gives you a plan for your writing, so you can chart the beginning, middle, and end of your piece. Of course, no law says that you must follow your outline down to the last detail. The process of writing can give you new ideas of what to write next, so you may want to revise your outline as you go along. Outlines will be covered in more detail in the chapter on research papers.

Set guidelines for yourself

There will be a million reasons to get up once you sit down, “Oh, I need more paper, or a new pen, or a towel to wipe off my computer screen.” While it is absolutely fine to take breaks when writing, jumping up every five seconds is not helpful to your momentum. Have what you need at hand, and make your surroundings pleasant enough that you might want to stay there for a few hours.

One of the most challenging aspects of writing is getting yourself to sit down and write. There are a few techniques you might try to ensure you keep working to get words on the page. You might, for example, try giving yourself small rewards in exchange for making some progress with your writing: “If I write five pages I’ll treat myself to a movie.” You might also try asking your friends to hold you accountable. It’s said that Ernest Hemingway actually paid his friends to force him to write for two hours every morning.

We recommend that you make a schedule for yourself depending on whatever it is that you’re writing. For longer writing tasks like a research paper, dedicate an hour or two a day to writing, preferably at the time of day when you are most productive. Long-form writing is usually best done in shorter spurts in order to keep you focused and motivated. However, a schedule can work just as well in situations where a deadline is fast approaching and you need to keep writing. Break up your time into intervals: writing intervals and break intervals. Write for an hour, and then take a short break to stretch, get some fresh air, or have a snack.

Write something down

The writing process entails constant revision and reworking. However, revision can only happen when you have something to revise. Get your thoughts out as they occur to you, even if they are not in the form of perfectly constructed sentences. During the pre-writing process, you should not strive for perfection——you’ll have plenty of time to refine your thoughts later on. Just get the sentences down on paper (or on your computer screen).

“I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m just shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.”

—Shannon Hale

And that’s it. Don’t agonize over how to begin. Simply write a sentence. Good or bad, that sentence will start you on the road to completion.