prewriting
Before the draft
Prewriting is the preparatory stage before drafting a piece of writing—brainstorming, outlining, researching, or gathering thoughts.
The term comes from composition pedagogy, where writing is taught as a process with distinct phases.
I spent two hours on prewriting before typing a single sentence.
Prewriting techniques include freewriting, mind mapping, and clustering ideas.
Radial idea diagram
- freewritingContinuous unedited composition
- clusteringForming concentrated groups
- ideationForming mental concepts
- listingRecorded item in catalog
questioning · looping · cubing · journaling · webbing · branching · association · jotting
Summary of key elements
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- organizationStructured group with purpose
- sequencingDetermining element order
arrangement · hierarchy · blueprint · schema · template · formatting · ordering · categorization
Collection of people meeting
- sourcesPoints of origin
- readingInterpreting written text
- annotationAdded explanatory comment
- note-takingRecording information while listening
bibliography · inquiry · investigation · background · context · evidence · quotations · summarizing
Gathered viewers collectively
- toneQuality of sound
- voiceSound from throat
- genreCategory of creative work
- assignmentAllocated work or duty
prompt · requirements · scope · objectives · angle · perspective · stance · intent
mindmap
Radial idea diagram
- freewritingContinuous unedited composition
- clusteringForming concentrated groups
- ideationForming mental concepts
listing · questioning · looping · cubing · journaling · webbing · branching · association · jotting · scribbling
outline
Summary of key elements
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- organizationStructured group with purpose
sequencing · arrangement · hierarchy · blueprint · schema · template · formatting · ordering · categorization · progression
gathering
Collection of people meeting
- sourcesPoints of origin
- readingInterpreting written text
- annotationAdded explanatory comment
note-taking · bibliography · inquiry · investigation · background · context · evidence · quotations · summarizing · paraphrasing
audience
Gathered viewers collectively
assignment · prompt · requirements · scope · objectives · angle · perspective · stance · intent · message
- writing instructiondrafting, revising, editing, proofreading, outlining
- writingdrafting, authors, author, books, authoring
- rhetoricrhetoric, persuasion, oratory, argumentation, debate
prewritingfinished product
Completed manufactured good
revision · editing · polishing · drafting · proofreading
prewritingwriting
Recorded language on surface
drafting · composing · execution · formal writing · production
write, writer, writing, written, wrote, handwriting, rewrite, writes, writers