Finding Your Inner Author...
The guidelines below
can help you express your thoughts more directly and more compellingly
for your readers. There are no secrets, but there are some tricks of the
trade. Here are a few of mine. I hope you
find them helpful!
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Before you
begin to write, you need to have something to say! If your topic
bores you, it will bore your readers even more. Where is your
passion? What do you care about, love, hate, dream about? Write
about that.
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Put a single
word that represents your topic at the top of a blank page. Now, do
some brainstorming, mind-mapping, or free-writing
to gather as many ideas as possible. At this stage, turn off
your "inner censor" and write down every thought that comes to mind.
Don't worry about logic or organization, let alone spelling or
grammar. Don't worry about writing complete sentences. Most
important, do NOT judge every idea before you write it down. A
really dumb idea might lead you to think of another that is really
exciting and original. One of the biggest mistakes an author can
make is to start editing too early.
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When you
absolutely cannot think of another idea, read over what you have
written and let it speak to you. You may be surprised at the
direction your thoughts have taken. Go with it.
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Now is the
time to pick and choose your best ideas, the ones that fit together.
Circle or underline them.
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Next, create
a rough outline to help you organize your thoughts in a way that
your reader can follow. Some writers prefer to outline everything in
detail before beginning to write; others just want a loose map so
they don't get lost on the journey. You will notice where you need
to add something or research some more information to round out your
ideas.
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You are now
ready to write your first draft. For some ideas on classic
paragraph structure, see the schematic below {still to come}.
Make sure your first sentence grabs the readers' attention, and
gives them a clear idea of what to expect. (This is called the
topic sentence.)
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Don't
tell me: show me. In other words, use vivid and lively details
and examples so that the reader can not only understand your point
of view, but can SEE and HEAR where it comes from.
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Use
enough links and transitions to help your reader follow your line of
thought. Think of road signs on a journey.
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Finish your
composition by summing up your most important points, and leaving
the reader with a clear picture of what you have said. (This is
called the conclusion.)
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Now you have
completed the first step. Yes, I said the first. You have
done your first draft, and it is time to share your work with others
and refine it.
Communication always involves a reader, not just a writer. By giving
and getting genuine feedback on how and what you are communicating,
you will focus on making your own writing more interesting, more
logical, and easier to understand.
It may take a second, or possibly even a third, draft until you are
completely happy with your work. When you are satisfied that you
have connected with your audience as well as you can, have someone
proofread your composition to catch spelling and mechanical errors.
When you have corrected these, your work is ready to hand in... or
to publish!
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Writing is a
way to reach out to the world: reach with your true words, and your
true minds and hearts.
The Writing Process
The writing process looks something like
this:
Model of the writing process (Michigan State Board of Education, 1994)
{This page is still under development.} |
