by Guest Blogger Amy Brecount White
My writing career has
spanned fiction, feature, and essay writing, and I’ve also taught all of the
above. One point that I find myself
emphasizing more and more is the importance of prewriting.
Too many of us start writing
before we’re truly ready, before our mind has had a chance to explore and
order. (That’s not to discourage free
writing as brainstorming if that’s your modus
operandi. Write away, but don’t
think that you’re close to being finished if you’re following the stream of
your consciousness.) Excellent writing –
the kind that moves the mind of your reader – requires a great deal of
prewriting, which can happen both on and off the paper or screen.
Here are the top three points I try to reinforce
with my students:
1) Read the question. Reread the
question. When you think you’re done,
reread the question. I can’t tell
you how many college essays I got this season that didn’t directly answer the
question or only answered it partially.
It’s vital to understand what you’re being asked to do before
undertaking it. Often, mapping out the
parts of the question can also help to clarify and organize your response. It makes the writing easier.
2) Do thorough research and get good evidence. Whether you’re writing an essay about that
pivotal moment in your life or penning a research paper on the Middle East , you need to convince your reader you know
what you’re talking about. To show your
reader the importance of that pivotal moment, you’ll need to remember specifics
and include the sensory details from that moment and also reflect on that
moment’s ultimate importance to you.
That takes time. To convince your
reader that you know all about Afghan tribal history, you need to put in your
time on a computer or at the library. No
one will believe anything you say unless you give him or her good
evidence. We’re all skeptical these days
and need to be convinced with solid, believable evidence.
3) Give your brain time to work.
My best ideas for metaphors or characters frequently come during my down
time, such as when I’m changing a load of laundry or walking the dog. (Thank goodness for the Notes function on my
phone!) Your brain needs time to let new
ideas and challenges percolate through all your experiences and connections. I try to assign my brain a task – i.e. think
about what my supporting character Gina really wants – and then let my
subconscious go to work. The problem
simmers in the background for a while and then, when the solution’s cooked,
pops into my consciousness. Too many
writers try to compose at their computer without giving their brain enough time
to mull over an idea or a conflict and understand it fully in all its
complexity. If you don’t fully
understand your answer or your character, how can you expect your reader to do
so?
Notice anything? Everything I’ve mentioned is a prewriting activity. Of course, there’s a back and forth between
writing and prewriting, and the boundaries can be blurred. But, I’ve definitely found, the more effort
you put into preparing to write anything, the better understood your final
words will be. You will connect with
your reader on a deeper level, which is, after all, the goal of most writers.
Happy writing!
Guest Blogger Amy Brecount White is the
owner of Expert Essay Coaching, a
essay tutoring business that specializes in coaching seniors on their college
essays. She’s also the author of Forget-Her-Nots
(Greenwillow/HarperCollins, 2010). Over
80 of her articles have appeared in The
Washington Post, and she now writes regularly for Arlington
www.amybrecountwhite.com or amybrecountwhiteATgmail.com
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