8.1 Apply Prewriting Models

If you think that a blank sheet of paper or a blinking cursor on the computer screen is a scary sight, you are not alone. Many writers, students, and employees find that beginning to write can be intimidating. However, experienced writers remind themselves that writing, like other everyday activities, is a process when faced with a blank page. Every process, from writing to cooking, bike riding, and learning to use a new cell phone, will get significantly easier with practice.

Just as you need a recipe, ingredients, and proper tools to cook a delicious meal, you also need a plan, resources, and adequate time to create a well-written composition. In other words, writing is a process that requires following steps and using strategies to accomplish your goals.

With a written assignment, once you have begun the process, you can think or meditate about the process steps away from the desk, while walking the dog, driving, or whatever. Therefore, the time between writing sessions can be very productive. If you start your paper early, then you will have more time for thinking.