10 / Basics of Good Writing
Most writers go through a prewriting process, begin writing and stop writing from
time to time to think again about the results of their prewriting activities. Thus,
because writers often move from prewriting to writing to prewriting again until
they achieve their goal, the term we will use occasionally in this book is the yo-yo
approach. Sometimes writing does not move as smoothly as you had hoped; you
need additional preparation, thought, research, experience, reflection, and/or discus-
sion before your ideas form a unified, comprehensive piece of writing. If you use the
yo-yo approach as you work, the writing process will be less painful, and the prewrit-
ing activities will provide more inspiration for the writing process ahead.