Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing

In “Getting Launched,” Trimble provides nine steps to consider before writing. These steps represent the core of the Trimble’s advice, which he will elucidate throughout the book. The steps are most geared toward college students picking essay or thesis topics, but the professional or advanced writer can use them for their next article, newspaper, blog, or book topic.

Step 1: Choose a topic that sparks passion

Trimble informs his reader that the first and most critical step to writing well is to “Pick a subject that means something to you, emotionally as well as intellectually” (4). Having passion for your subject is Trimble’s most fundamental advice; he “can’t recall a piece of good prose that didn’t reflect it” (4). That passion, he says, could include both positive and negative feelings towards a subject, but both fall under the same umbrella of emotion. In either case, “turn your feelings to account—work in harmony with them and actively tap them” (5).

For example, if an undergraduate student has the option to choose between writing an essay analyzing the work of Mark Twain versus Emily Dickenson, the student should choose the author that most excites them, most interests them, and about which they most immediately feel they have an opinion.