Pre-writing might help you write faster and clearer.
Pre-writing? Is that like rinsing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to make sure they get clean? you ask.
Sort of. The goal is at least equivalent. You pre-write with the idea in mind that it will help guide you to a better conclusion to that day’s writing.
It doesn’t take long. The amount of time pre-writing could depend on the number words or amount of time you are going to spend writing, but should probably be no more than ten minutes.
When you pre-write, you decide what scene it is you are working on and what should happen or that you want to happen in that scene.
For example, say Nick is in a hurry to get to the local BBQ restaurant to meet Kelly for their first date. You decide: Nick is nervous. He hasn’t had a date in almost a year and he always wanted to date Kelly. He is so nervous he mistakes his cologne for his shampoo and accidentally dumps most of his cologne on his head and now has to scramble to clean himself up and NOT reek of his favorite cologne, the one guaranteed to drive women mad. Kelly will certainly be mad if he arrives late.
Now, with that brief sketch of the scene, you write it out in more detail, but you know what he has done and what he is trying to do and what has happened to prevent him from accomplishing his goal of meeting Kelly on time, or even arriving a little ahead of time.
Give it a try and see if it works for you. See if it helps you write more in the same amount of time or write clearer. Some authors, such as Rachel Aaron in her e-book 2,000 to 10,000, How to write faster, write better, and write more of what you love.
I wonder how long it took her to write that title.
