Prewriting is the planning stage of writing. This is where writers brainstorm, organize, and outline their ideas before writing the first draft. Prewriting clarifies the piece’s purpose and audience, reduces writer’s block, and speeds up drafting by preventing false starts and plateaus.
Pre-writing strategies use writing to generate and clarify ideas. While many writers have traditionally created outlines before beginning writing, there are several other effective prewriting activities. We often call these prewriting strategies “brainstorming techniques.”
Discover 8 detailed examples of prewriting techniques for fiction and nonfiction in 2026. Includes when to use each, mini-templates, and actionable tips.
Prewriting is the first stage of the writing process, typically followed by drafting, revision, editing and publishing. [1][2][3] Prewriting can consist of a combination of outlining, diagramming, storyboarding, and clustering (for a technique similar to clustering, see mindmapping).
In composition, prewriting refers to any activity that helps a writer think about a topic, determine and analyze a purpose, and prepare to write.
This section explains the prewriting (invention) stage of the composing process. It includes processes, strategies, and questions to help you begin to write.
Prewriting is the first stage of the writing process. It’s when writers can plan what they want to write, organize their thoughts, set goals, and explore topics. Prewriting isn’t supposed to be polished or even grammatically correct. It can be artful, chaotic, or even messy.
Prewriting is the initial stage of the writing process that takes place before you draft your manuscript. Its primary purpose is to help writers generate, explore, and refine story ideas through methods like brainstorming and outlining.