Everyone has his or her own system of getting the creative juices flowin' that includes locking in a topic, gathering the information, organizing the material and finding the right conditions under which to compose. What system works best for you?

(a) Share with the class how you get your writing projects in gear. How do you decide what to write about? How do you choose a topic? What means do you use to develop supporting ideas?

(b) Describe your optimal writing conditions. Is there a time of day when you're more effective? Do you prefer working in isolation or in the company of others? Are you more productive composing at a keyboard or with pen and paper?