Writing can be done in so many ways. Each one of us has a distinct way of writing, however, the end product is what matters the most. All the readers need is cohesion, rhythm, and of course, flow. Without these, your write-up would be all over the place and the likelihood of your readers getting your message would be low.
So, having the idea of what to write is one thing, but putting it down is something else altogether. I’ve found that many writers have trouble organizing their thoughts in a way that would make for a good write-up. Every great work needs to be organized and there has to be a build-up so that as the reading progresses, the reader will become even more invested.
There are ways to do this, and today I’ll share with you how I organize myself before I write. I’ve done it so many times now that it’s already a part of me, and to an extent, I don’t even notice it when I do anymore.
Last week, I talked about the questions to ask ourselves before writing, but this time I’ll be sharing tips that will help you direct your writing after answering those questions. It will also help to increase your focus and make the job easier for you to accomplish.
So, shall we begin?
1. Create An Outline.
Not everyone needs this, but when I first started, it was a great help. This first step doesn’t have to be neat or anything. This is where you jot down everything you want to talk about. All the points you want your write-up to contain. No matter how mundane and silly it may sound, just write it down.
I prefer to do this with ink and paper because it helps me think more clearly. I employ this tactic not just when making posts but also when writing books. This way, I’ll be sure that no matter how stumped I get during the writing process, I’ll always know what next to write. The great thing about this is that even before I start the main writing, it already has a beginning, a middle, and an ending.
As I said, there’s nothing much to this particular part. Just write down everything you want in your post. As they cross your mind, you write them down. You can do this in the form of a list, even number them if you want to. It doesn’t matter. It just has to be clear enough for you.
2. Rearrange Your Outline
This is very important. Like I said earlier, there’s a flow and rhythm that’s required of write-ups. Every good work has a build-up. It starts from somewhere and builds up to the crescendo before dying down. everything works this way, whether fiction or article. The same rules apply.
So, you need to rearrange your outline in a way that will reflect this. When you look at the points you listed, which do you think will be the best to start with? And then, what should come after? And after… you keep doing that until you get to the conclusion. You then decide how you want it to end.
Of course, it can happen that the original way that you outlined your work might need no rearrangement. If you believe that’s the case for you, then by all means you can go ahead and work with that. If not, then you need to rework it. What is needed is that the flow is not messed with. Once it’s arranged successfully, you’re ready for the third tip.
3. Prune Your Outline.
There is nothing more annoying to a reader than pointless write-ups, and you must try your best to avoid them. When you go through the outline, those points you feel are unnecessary and the post can do without, you get rid of them at once!
Also, if two or more points seem similar, then it might be a good idea to merge them into one. You have to cut down on the number of points because your goal here is to deliver your message in as few words as possible. Each word must pack power and purpose, and talking about the same thing paragraph after paragraph would just be off-putting.
The thing is, without outlining, you might never figure this out. You’ll simply be rambling away and writing as the thought comes to your head. But this way, you’ll realize that some things don’t need to be said, and other things can be said in some other way. So, this is just like editing your first draft. You need to decide which points will stay, which points will leave, and which points will be merged. Once that’s achieved, you move on to the final tip!
4. You Can Start Writing!
So now, with your outline ready, you simply start writing. You do this by taking it one point after the other, in the sequence you rearranged it. Depending on how you want it, you could dedicate two or more paragraphs to each point and know that on whatever point you’re on, you’d write only on that particular one.
Focus on the points and expand on them. If it takes more than a few paragraphs, more than you’re comfortable with, don’t stop. Keep writing, you’d edit when you’re done. From start to finish, you keep following your list. And you must be sure to make each paragraph connect, that flow must be present, no matter what. It won’t make sense if your work feels like a compilation of different write-ups. So, you must be sure to keep the rhythm going.
Along the way, you could get more ideas, you shouldn’t just fix them anywhere. You’d have to step back a bit to determine the best places to fix them. While it’s good to be flexible so you can evolve with time, this bit of evolution still needs to be handled with care so as not to ruin your write-up. So, you keep going at it until you hit the final full stop.
In Conclusion
This is something that can work for any form of writing at all. At first, it might be hard, but over time you’ll find it easier to do. And soon, you won’t even need to rearrange your points because you already write them down in sequence and there will also come a time when you can simply outline it all in your head.
But then, there’s no rush. This is something that you should take your time doing, no one is putting a gun to your head and asking you to get better. All this is a process, so take your time learning it and enjoy yourself while you’re at it.
I’m certain that if you work with these tips, you’ll find it easier to focus your thoughts and direct your writing. And as a result, see your write-ups improve significantly. After all, isn’t that what we all want?
Shout out to @michupa for bringing this to my attention!