Have you ever thought of an idea or concept so brilliant and you have no clue of how to put it across? Imagination is the most important part of writing, whether it's a narrative, descriptive, or a presentation. However, putting your mind to a pen and paper can be difficult sometimes. That alone can lead to frustrations ultimately quenching the passion that one has for writing. This article is poised to give simple steps on how to structure an article and how to effectively prune your writing skills.
An article comprises of the 4 aspects which l personally call "The 4Ps of the writing process"
These are :
- The planning process
- The Pen to paper process
- The pruning process
- The polishing process.
Planning process
As a writer, blogger, or even business person it's very important to note that information is a hub of any article that you intend to tackle. Planning consists of up to 60% of any article, this implies that more energy is put into this process as it involves a lot of research and strategies on how best to achieve what you want to say. You need to be clear on what you want to write to avoid wasting time when drafting your article. Questions like the targeted audience and the timeline are also devised in this phase.
Pen-to-paper process
Writing is a process and at this stage, the then gathered information will now be put into an articulated, desired writing style. Your message has to be clear, precise, and consistent at this stage. It's like building, a correct mixture or ratio of materials has to put in order for the structure to stand. You are basically framing the route, and the rhythm of the article taking into consideration the audience that are going to read the article. You still have room to add more information and determine the type of images to be placed as well. The process of progressive proofreading is initiated and the reason l said it's progressive is that errors and omissions are expected in this stage.
Pruning process
Proofreading can never be overemphasized as this is one of the vital tools in writing. In big establishments, there are people who are employed specifically for this role and are majorly called editors. At this stage, you will be looking at your article with the eye, mostly the critical constructive one. Put yourself in the shoes of the readers and always remember you are your first critique. You can never lie to yourself though most people choose to ignore it. Grammar and punctuations are some of the things to look at. Take your time and if you can have a second opinion, please let them have a look and provide feedback. This will not only help you writing-wise but also improve your confidence and ultimately build networks. We can never live forever in isolation, we need each other one way or the other.
Polishing Process
This is the final stage in your writing process and hence the most important one. At this stage, you leave no stone unturned. Ensuring that the article written is in sync with the heading and composition thereof is very important at this point. Final adjustments including the right images, and quotes are also the main priority as they determine how the article will be framed. Be proud of what you have archived at this stage and take it as a win for yourself, let your creative mind be enjoyed by your desired audience.
Conclusion
Writing is a skill and but not only is it a skill, it is also an engine that drives the way people think in almost every aspect of our lives. Being able to translate your imagination into pen and paper, and allowing your audience to enter your secret place through writing is such a wonderful opportunity that only open-minded writers can appreciate. Remember to stay positive, your first article might not be perfect but the more you write, the more perfect your skills will be.
gif credits Bing