Pre-Writing and Brainstorming.

Writing is a multi-step process.  If Shakespeare were to just write whatever he wanted to with no prior planning, well…we probably wouldn't know who Shakespeare is today.  Writing takes time, thought and a lot of organization in order for it to come out as one, cohesive work.  In the midst of your random scribbling, many of your ideas may seem to be jumbled and in-cohesive.  This makes it hard for you to really get your ideas in motion.  How do you fix that?  Well, the ultimate way to ensure flow with writing is to undergo Pre-Writing and a little organized Brainstorming.

There are several, critical points to Pre-Writing.  For each point, write down whatever it is that entails of it.

Purpose
~Why are you writing?  Where do you plan to take your writing?  Make sure you have a deep reason as to why you are writing.  Without a reason, writing is just meaningless words.

Audience
~Who are you talking to?  Are you using language they can understand?  Pick language that's acceptable and appropriate.  What does the audience know or not know about the subject?  Explain what they don't.  When you are writing a story, inserting or taking out certain details can completely change the theme, meaning and audience.  
For example, there are several versions of the story "Cinderella".  In the most known version (the Disney Version), Cinderella's step-sisters try their hardest to get the glass slipper to fit in order to marry the prince.  But, comically, their feet were too big.  This version is meant for little girls and the theme is meant to say "good things happen to good girls".  On the opposite side of the spectrum, "The Brothers Grimm" version of the story has Cinderella's step sisters gruesomely cutting off their toes and pieces of skin in order to get the slipper to fit.  This is obviously not meant for little girls.  The theme now is, "if you're bad, bad things happen to you".  Same story, different details, different audience.  Make sense?

Genre
~What type of writing style?  What kind of characters do they develop?  Each style has different levels of writing and creation.  Each genre also delivers and is targeted towards different audience members.  Make sure you understand the core concepts of what makes the genre what it is, so you can follow those concepts.
For example; romance novels are about extreme (most often times, unrealistic) bouts of emotion.  Their audience is not targeted to a younger audience, but more "adult".  Even though the audience is "adult", you don't want to use large, uncommon words.  Though, you can use larger words than you would for a younger audience.  Those reading a romance novel don't want to have to try and decipher the meaning of a word, they want to know who sleeps with Joe first.  Make sense?  

Stance
~Where do you stand on this?  What is your opinion towards the subject you are writing?  Make sure you know your perspective towards the subject.  Think about these answers to yourself.  If you are writing a long novel, look towards the theme.  
For example; war.  War is a common theme used in a lot of stories and writing.  It could, more or less be a theme in your own story.  Ask yourself; are you for, or against it?  Let your story act as the explanation of your "stance".  

Design
~What does it look like?  Is it professional?  Is it cute and attractive?  What kind of text format did they use?  For artists; is the art realism?  Is it anime?  Different art styles can deliver a different design and style effect.  Also, different styles attract a different audience.  Depending on who your audience is, you should create the design of your book, your paper or your website for your audience.  What will you make it look like in order to be on equal grounds for your audience?
For example; say you want to be published as a comic book artist and you want to create a website.  Keep that website as professional as possible.  You are going to be using that website for job applications and other "professional" means.  So, don't do anything that may come across unprofessional or cutesy, because that could harm your chances of being hired.  But, if you're creating a website to host pictures of kittens, then by all means, make it as cute as possible.  Make sense?  

Pre-Writing are steps taken to really get you thinking about why you're writing.  Like I've said before, without reason, writing is just meaningless words.  Taking these steps into consideration will lay down the ground work for your Brainstorming session ahead.  So, don't disregard the importance of Pre-Writing.  

Brainstorming is the act of thinking deeply and coming up with ideas for your writing.  When Brainstorming, you may come across a number of bumps in the road.  What if you're having a hard time coming up with ideas?  What if the ideas you're coming up with aren't in order or cohesive?  Here are some brainstorming steps you can take in order to organize and hopefully, concoct new ideas.

Brains work different ways, so different ways of organization may come to play.  Some learn visually, some learn verbally.  So, here are some different ways to brainstorm.  

The "Looping" Method:  In this method, you just free write.  You write whatever it is that comes to mind and when you can't continue anymore, you stop, read what you have and pick through the good ideas you have there, then, in a separate document, elaborate on those ideas and use them in your final draft.  

The "Clusters" Method:  What you do, is you write your topic in the center, then, draw branches from that idea and think of ways to connect them.  
For example:  (Trucks---loud---engines---4-wheeling—diesel) All the words that come after are connected to the idea of trucks and it can help you think of the "in-between".  

Follow this link for an example image of a cluster diagram.

www.workshopexercises.com/clus…

The Verbal Method:  Some brains retain information well just by hearing it.  If you're one of these people, well, simply just speak these ideas out loud.  Talk about it with your friends and family.  Who knows, you may get some good ideas from your folks too.

Finally, The Bullet List Method:  This is the easiest and my preferred way of going about brainstorming.  You write down a key idea, then, write whatever else that comes to mind after the key event.

For example…

The building is on fire
Must flee building
Rescue trapped partner
Avoid crumbling and burning rubble
Reaches exit

From that one, key idea, you were able to get 4 more points from it.  Then, from there, you can do this…

The building is on fire
Must flee building
The prolonged gas leak is releasing toxic gas in the air, creating even more of a hazard
Rescue trapped partner
Your partner is suffocating and is near death
Avoid crumbling and burning rubble
Rubble falls and hits your character several times, they are injured, hope is looking bleak
Reaches exit
Suddenly, rubble collapses and blocks your way out


From those other points, you can make even MORE, smaller, more concise points.  (Green bullets are the new points)

There are even more ways you can brainstorm and organize your ideas, so, do whatever method you know about that suits your fancy.  Writing is something that can take years of study in order to perfect.  Regardless of who you are as a writer, always practice and put your heart in to your writing, even when it comes to school work.

Happy writing!