An instructor or employer may tell you what topic to write about, but sometimes the choice will be yours. When the topic is left open, you may be tempted to put off getting started because you can’t decide what to do. Experienced writers say that the best way to choose a topic is literally to let it choose you. Look to the topics that compel, puzzle, confuse, or pose a problem for you: these are likely to engage your interest and hence produce some of your best writing.

Deciding on a broad topic is an essential step before beginning to write, but you need to go further than that to decide what you want to say about your topic and how you will shape what you want to say into a clear, powerful message.