Generating Ideas

Through experience and practice, successful writers have made two discoveries that can help you succeed with your writing:

Writing is a process. Writers, like inventors, create their work in stages (exploring, planning, writing, and revising), not all at once.

There are many ways to write successfully. Each individual’s writing process is unique. There is no single “right” way to write.

As you critically survey a writing assignment and begin to see what to do, create choices for yourself. Discover what you think about possible topics by doing various kinds of exploratory writing. Find out what works best for you in which situations, and adopt these writing strategies to your style and habits.

Keeping a journal or diary—daily records of experience, reflection, and opinion

Brainstorming—free-association lists

Brainstorming dialogues—talks with friends, family, fellow students, coworkers, and teachers to get feedback on your ideas

Topic mapping (clustering and branching)—visual representation of your ideas and the connections between them

Freewriting—sentence form free-association

1. You can do exploratory writing in two ways. In unfocused explorations, write whatever comes to mind, whether everything connects or not. In focused explorations, try to focus on one topic, unless you get pulled to something more interesting.

2. Set a time limit, usually 7 to 15 minutes. Start writing about whatever comes to mind the moment you begin. Write by hand or use a computer.

3. Don’t stop. If your mind suddenly goes blank, write “blank, blank, blank” or repeat your last word until thoughts begin flowing again.

4. Don’t censor. Write whatever comes to mind, however strange it sounds. It may lead to something important or powerful. If you don’t like what you’ve written when you finish, you can throw it away.

5. Don’t change anything. If you write something one way and think of another way, make a slash (/) and then write the second version.

6. Don’t stop to correct mistakes. Don’t worry about them. You’re only exploring.

A good writing topic has these characteristics: It is important. A good topic is important to you

and your readers.

It is fresh. A good topic is new to you or your readers, or your approach to a familiar topic is fresh.

It is challenging. Choose topics that challenge your thinking, curiosity, or feeling. Easy topics may lead to boredom for you and your readers.

It fits the occasion. It reflects your interests, meets the assignment, fulfills reader expectations.

Focusing a project means becoming clear about your subject, figuring out what’s most important about it, what you want to do with it, and the point you want to make.

To focus your writing narrow your topic, write a purpose statement, and ask questions.

After surveying the requirements of the assignment and exploring your ideas, write a tentative purpose statement. Briefly tell yourself what you want to accomplish in your writing. This purpose may change as your project unfolds, but writing it out early will guide you.

Example: I want to inform urban and suburban readers that, for many, bicycling is a solution to the frustrations of rush-hour commuting.

Jot down questions based on the 5 W’s + H, or use the critical thinking questions listed in the “How to Think Critically” box (Dodds pp. 6-7). Ask other questions relevant to your topic.

Examples:• Who should become a bicycle commuter?• What problems do bicycle commuters face?• What are the benefits of bicycle commuting?• How can a cyclist begin commuting by bicycle?

Everything you write has a voice, also called a persona. Readers hear it in your words and sentences, in your attitude toward your subject, and in your relationship with them as readers.

Just as you modify the way you speak to suit various occasions, so should you adjust your written voice to suit your project.

Each of these features of a writer’s voice can be adjusted toward one or the other end of a spectrum:

Formality Tone

Balance Manner of Address

For formal academic or professional writing:• Aim to sound fair, objective, and relatively serious• Generally make your style straightforward and to

the point• Use “I” to refer to yourself only if necessary, but

focus on your subject• Avoid slang and most contractions, but don’t

sound pompous or flowery• Whatever you write should sound like you

speaking in a voice suitable to the subject and occasion

For personal or informal writing:• The more personal your subject, the more

informal you can be• Informal writing leaves lots of room for variety in

vocabulary, attitude, and style of expression• Notes of Caution:o Keep in mind the knowledge and interests of your

readerso Use complete sentences and good grammar except

when appropriateo Avoid emoticons and text shorthand

See page 33 in your text for a list of materials you’ll use to develop your ideas and support your points. Not all of these materials will be useful for every project

Using lists, notes, photocopies, or computer files, gather the materials that are suitable for both your purposes and your readers’ interests and needs.