Whether you're writing school assignments, letters, or creative projects, effective writing should be clear and concise.If you want to make your writing more lively, learn to corral your ideas, produce solid drafts, and polish your work the most effective way.
Step 1: Define your purpose.
Are you working on a school assignment?Are you writing a letter to a friend?Is it possible to write creatively?Different types of writing have different goals, and you need to identify the purpose of your piece to write it well.You can find the purpose of school projects by looking at your assignment sheet or writing prompt.Your purpose is to answer the question.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 will the reader think of your writing?What do they know?
Step 3: Freewriting can help you find your ideas.
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, making lists, or creating a mind map.
Step 4: There is a main idea.
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 starts out with.If you're responding to a prompt for an assignment, your main idea should be your answer to the question being asked.If you're writing a letter, your main idea should be something from your life.The main idea for a story or poem should be a plot, theme, or style.
Step 5: There are several supporting details for each main idea.
What makes your main idea true?Think of the top of a table as the main idea.Without the legs to hold it up, it doesn't do much.A good main idea needs convincing details or it won't be worth much.Try to come up with at least three supporting details for your main idea.
Step 6: An effective outline is what you should organize your ideas into.
The most effective order is the one you came up with.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 tool.
If you don't like outlining, there are other organizational tools you can use.
Step 8: Your main idea is called your thesis.
A thesis statement summarizes what the reader will learn in your writing.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 pressure 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: The main idea should be connected to the thesis.
As 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.Make the connection clear.
Step 12: Specific is the best way to describe it.
Don't use vague and abstract language.Concrete details are used instead of "Seriously crazy weather is sometimes reported in Florida."It's 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: Write your ideas, not the words.
Don't worry about "sounding smart" as you write your draft.The first draft of any writing should be used to communicate your ideas, not impress someone with your vocabulary.
Step 16: Cut everything that isn't moving your ideas forward.
You can read the draft with a pencil or a finger.If you see something that repeats a point you've already made, you should remove it.It's useless wasted space if anything isn't working to prove the main idea.Sometimes it is necessary to eliminate unnecessary sentences, ideas, points, sections, or even paragraphs to make a piece more effective.
Step 17: Weak verbs should be replaced with strong ones.
To avoid passive voice, make sure your subjects and verbs agree.Weak verbs include "was" and "have."Replacing weak verbs with more active ones will make your writing more vigorous.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 enough, don't use two words.Instead of writing about the party being fun and exciting, write about it being thrilling.
Step 19: Run-on sentences are what to look for.
Multiple "ands" or semi-colons need to be cut into more than one sentence.In general, avoid semi-colons and sentences with more than one clause.
Step 20: Make sure your original purpose matches.
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 errors in the improved draft.The last thing you should do with a draft is this.
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.Did they get it right?Keep working to make it more effective.