Which of the following is the first step in the described writing process?

• A. Pre-writing
• B. Publishing
• C. Editing
• D. Sharing/Getting Audience Feedback

Answer: (A)

Understanding the order of steps in the writing process is what this item tests. The first step is pre-writing, the phase where you brainstorm ideas, decide your purpose, identify your audience, choose a topic, and outline or plan the structure of your piece. Doing this early helps you focus your message, determine what information to include, and decide how you’ll organize your writing. It saves time later by reducing aimless drafting and multiple rewrites. The other options belong to later stages: publishing comes after you’ve finished and polished the writing; editing happens after a draft is ready to refine language and fix errors; sharing or getting audience feedback is typically sought once you have a draft or near-final version to inform final adjustments.