The Writing Process: Brainstorming

To begin the writing process, the writer first whould have a goal in mind. Think about your written communication like a road trip. Would you jump in your car right now and just drive, without supplies and without direction? That seems rather silly, right? This haphazard attitude is often used by people when writing.

First, get an idea in your mind as to what you hope to accomplish. Having your destination in mind helps plot your path. Then you won't be distracted by by extraneous materials. Those other items may be wonderful, but are they really going to help move your reader on the designated path to reach the intended destination? If not, put that data aside for another time, a more appropriate setting or sommunication.

For example, if you are plot a drive from Dallas to Houston, TX, you only going to talk about the sights and cities between Dallas and Houston. Colorado, El Paso, New Orleans, and Niagara Falls may be lovely places to visit; however, that information is irrelevant in telling a person how to move from Dallas to Houston. You will only want to talk about potential rest stops, sights to see along the way, and possible warnings, like not picking up hitchhikers by the prison in Huntsville and the towering statue of Sam Houston in the Piney Woods region. These details are relevant for a new driver to the area. Your job is to navigate the new driver through unfamiliar territory so he/she safely arrives at the designated destination.

How do you do this? Brainstorm first. Think of all the items and words that covey your message. Write everything down. Do not discard anything at this point. Like a storm that has rain falling indiscriminately, your ideas should fall indiscriminately on the paper. No judgments yet. You can sort through the ideas later.

Take 2-10 minutes to write down everything you can about the topic, your intended goal, and your intended audience. Once this material is on paper and out of your head, you will have an easier time assessing the material and determine relevance and organization.