Whether you're writing school assignments, letters, or creative projects, writing should be clear and concise.If you want to make your writing more lively, you should learn to corral your ideas, produce solid drafts, and polish your work the most effective way.
Step 1: Define your purpose.
Do you have a school assignment?Do you write an e-mail or letter to a friend?Are you writing creatively?Different types of writing have different goals, and you need to identify the purpose of your piece to write it well.The purpose of school projects can be found on your assignment sheet or writing prompt.If it's a question, you want to answer it.Your purpose in writing correspondence is to update the person about your life, to communicate, or to respond to their writing.The purpose of a story or poem is to entertain.
Step 2: Do you know your reader?
You should write a card to your spouse in a different way than a note to the doctor.What is the reader's expectation of your writing?What do they know?
Step 3: To find your ideas, try freewriting.
Start writing if you can't figure out a way to start.If you find an interesting idea on which to build, set a 10 minute time limit and don't stop typing or writing until the 10 minutes is up.If you don't like freewriting, try recording it on your phone and making lists.
Step 4: The main idea should be selected.
What do you want someone to learn from this piece of writing?This could be a few words.An interesting and complicated main idea is what effective writing begins with.Your main idea should be your answer to the question being asked, if you're responding to a prompt for an assignment.Your main idea should be a topic from your life.The main idea for your story or poem should be a plot, theme, or style.
Step 5: There are several supporting details for the main idea.
What makes your main idea true?The top of a table is the main idea.Without the legs to hold it up, it doesn't do much good.A good main idea needs convincing details or it won't be worth anything.Try to come up with at least three supporting details for each idea.
Step 6: An effective outline is what you should organize your ideas into.
The most effective order might be the one you came up with first.To make your writing more effective, organize your points so that they meet the reader's expectations and support your main ideas logically.You can learn to organize a formal outline by reading this article.
Step 7: If necessary, try another organizational tool.
If you don't like outlining, there are other organizational tools you can use.
Step 8: Your thesis is your most important idea.
A thesis statement is a single sentence that summarizes what you have written.In the first paragraph of most writing, it needs to be clear and concise.
Step 9: Get to the point right away.
Ineffective writing will try to create "suspense" or delay the main ideas to try and include "hooks" in the early parts of writing.It's better to just get to the point and let your ideas do the work.
Step 10: For each idea, use one paragraph.
Don't put too much stress on paragraphs.It's probably time for a new paragraph when you change ideas.Start a new paragraph when you've written everything about the idea.
Step 11: Your thesis should be connected to each main idea.
When you're writing, make sure to include all your good supporting details for each main point, and connect each idea back to the thesis it should be supporting.The connection should be clear.
Step 12: Be specific.
Don't use vague and abstract language.Concrete details are used instead of "Seriously crazy weather is sometimes reported in Florida."It is often humid and damp in Florida during the summer.
Step 13: The reader should be given "signposts".
It's important to remind the reader that what they're reading is important.This transitions between paragraphs and sentences.signpost phrases like "This displays..." or "It's important to note that..." are used after introducing a supporting detail.
Step 14: It is on the side of over-explaining.
Most inexperienced writers don't fully explain the connections between their main ideas, support, and thesis.If you're worried about running too short in your writing, focus on explaining more, not filling the draft with fluff.
Step 15: Writing your ideas is more important than the wording.
Don't worry about "sounding smart" as you write your draft.The first draft of any writing needs to focus on communicating your ideas, not impressing someone with your vocabulary.
Step 16: Cut everything that isn't moving your ideas forward.
You can read the draft with a pencil in your hand or a finger on the button.If you see something that repeats a point you've already made, you should remove it.The main idea is wasted space if anything isn't working to prove it.Sometimes it is necessary to eliminate unnecessary sentences, ideas, points, sections, or even paragraphs to make a piece more effective.
Step 17: Weak verbs can be replaced with strong ones.
To avoid passive voice, make sure your subjects and verbs agree.Weak verbs include "be" and "have."To make your writing more vigorous, replace weak verbs with more active ones.A big crowd has been lured downtown, instead of "has been."Try "The festival lured a big crowd downtown" instead of the stronger "lured."For a quick tip to weak verbs, look for sentences that start with the word there.
Step 18: There should be no unnecessary words.
Bad writing takes the reader's time.Good writing cuts straight to the point.When a single more accurate word is sufficient, don't use two words.Instead of writing about the party being fun and exciting, write about it being exciting.
Step 19: Run-on sentences are what to look for.
If a sentence involves multiple "ands" or semi-colons, it needs to be cut into more than one sentence.In general, avoid semi-colons and sentences with more than one clause.
Step 20: Make sure it matches your original purpose by looking back at it.
What do you want your writing to accomplish?Does it give a clear explanation of the main idea?You're ready to move on if that's the case.
Step 21: Last chance to proofread.
Look for mistakes in the improved draft.This should be the last thing you do with a draft.
Step 22: If possible, give feedback.
If you want to get specific feedback on your writing, ask a friend or family member to tell you what the main idea was, or have them write it at the end.Is it possible that they got it right?Keep working to make it more effective.