If this sounds at all familiar, don't feel too much guilt because even accomplished writers work this way, suffer from various forms of estudiantis procrastinamythis. Relax. For now I'm not going to rant on about time management. No. This section of the program is concerned with what you do after you lick the tip of the pencil, not what you do before you sit down to write. In this section I would like to introduce you to a few simple strategies for developing an idea, creating a manageable focus for your writing before you shape the finished essay. Trust me on this:

Much of your success and effectiveness as a writer depends on the quality of the writing you do before you write, the pre-writing steps you take before you begin to SCULPT your text.

Due to bad writing habits, laziness or a CRITICAL hole in their writing instruction, most students skip this pre-writing step completely and then wonder why their grades are so scary. I acknowledge that this is not always your fault. Even though there is a greater CONSCIOUSNESS now about the importance of this pre-writing work, many college writing instructors still don't introduce these strategies to their students because they assume that they were taught to the students in their high school writing courses. To make matters worse, many of us crusty old folk were never taught these approaches during our own schooling, so we don't even think about employing them or teaching them to our students.

I'm a case in point. When I was a student, I was expected to take a piece of paper and a pen and just write write write away. As you probably know, that approach can be torture, because it asks you to do the composing and organization of your writing in your head as you go. Then, several years ago, I went through a RENAISSANCE of sorts in my writing and teaching thanks to workshops that I took from some of my more recently-educated, up-to-date colleagues. I am proof that, at least when it comes to writing, you can teach an old dog new tricks. You can INSTALL a new set of writing habits.

The longer I teach, the more firmly I believe that taking the time to develop effective pre-writing is the greatest gift you could ever give your writing, and thus your grades. So here we go. Much of what I am going to ask you to do will feel alien and uncomfortable at first, but I promise that by the end of the semester these new habits will feel as COMFY as your favorite old pair of socks

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