* Brainstorming: Generating ideas freely, often through listing, mind mapping, or freewriting.
* Freewriting: Writing continuously for a set time without worrying about grammar or organization.
* Outlining: Creating a structured plan for the writing, showing the main points and their relationships.
* Clustering/Mind Mapping: Visually organizing ideas by branching out from a central topic.
* Researching: Gathering information from various sources to support the writing.
* Reading: Reviewing relevant materials to gain background knowledge and different perspectives.
* Defining the audience and purpose: Identifying who the writing is for and what it aims to achieve.
* Developing a thesis statement (for essays): Creating a concise statement of the main argument or point.
Essentially, anything you do *before* you start writing the first draft of your piece is considered prewriting. It's the planning and preparation stage.