Writing Is Thinking
Writing can be difficult. You’re conditioned to write with artful precision, the mercurial grammar rules, and the strange feeling of angst when you write for others. The beginning is a simple piece of information, however, as you attempt to put it together into words it’s as if you’re taking out your internal intestinal tracts.
However, you’re not a professional writer, so this shouldn’t be your issue, right? The truth is that writing isn’t an art of the mystical. It’s a practical skill, particularly given that the majority of our internet-based communications are text-based to start. If writing about what you do you make all of us smarter because it, which includes you, because it makes you think beyond the standard cocktail-party etiquette you employ to explain the work you’re doing and consider the impact your work is having on the world.
If you do it correctly, that signifies that you’re contributing a signal instead of just noise.
Nobody is born with this talent, however. We frequently hear from those who claim they’d like to write for A List Apart You may want to start blogging but aren’t sure where to begin. They are overwhelmed and unfocused by the work. If this starts to be you, keep reading as I’ll explain how writing works and how you can become better at writing.
BUT WRITING SUCKS.
Yeah, sure. However, I’m not requesting for you to compose pages of beautiful prose in a single sitting. (Hint: no one is doing that anyway. We’ll discuss that later.) I’m asking you to start with the process of thinking. If are a reader, then you’re already a thinker, which means you’re already halfway to the end of the road. Really. The reason is that writing — the first step in creating your own idea and creating something that people Read. The key is thinking. If you’re able to discern the distinction between an essay that understands what it’s about, and one that is solely a means to promote advertising space then you’re probably pretty proficient at this already.
Think about all the things you needed to research on the internet to determine what you needed to know to do your job. Maybe those items weren’t on the internet at all, they have gained them through direct experiences. It is important to write it down, as when you combine your ideas into a writing piece that gives the necessary direction and voice to something else that is a jumble of a set of beliefs and habits–a disgruntled “that’s just the way we’ve always done it around here.”
Selecting the right words you use to describe your work indicates that you’re doing it for a reason. You’ll be recognized as someone who considers the reasons behind what they do and knows how every choice affects the outcome. The ability to develop this analytical thinking will help you become better at doing what you do.
Start with something messy
Thinking: check. You now have to begin putting your thoughts on paper. Do not read them again until you’re absolutely required to, and preferably at a different time of the day. Think of what it is you’re trying to write down, then jot the most important ideas down. If you’re unsure of how to conclude the sentence, you can stop after a few lines. If you’re planning to write about a specific idea, but your brain is speeding up to figure it out, simply paraphrase in the meantime and then go on to the next important aspect.
If the words don’t come easily If you’re stuck, try paraphrasing. The essence of outlining is an exercise in paraphrasing the things you’d want to talk about. The worst-case scenario is that you’ll have lots of questions you’d like to be able to answer. “More research needed” is an option, but not an excuse to not write.
If you’re similar to me, your final product of this initial stage will appear more like an outline that is interspersed with rants and maybe some notes on the errands that you’ve realized you have to do today. It’s not an idea you’d want to be able to share with someone else.
In terms of the word, it’s an initial draft.
Now, you’ve officially started writing. It’s not pretty, is it? Then it will be until the final. This is an important element in the whole process. Take a look at the list you have. It may be necessary to cut through some of the banter (and definitely the shopping list) to get to the point, however, somewhere is the essence of your concept or the main message that you want your readers to be able to. Find it.
Getting to the place
Imagine that you’re showing your neighbor your home before you leave for vacation. If you’re able to spend an hour discussing lasagna recipes, what’s happening in the world, or the most recent gossip regarding your neighbor or neighbor, it’s likely to take the most important details that the houseplants are in place the water and gas shutoffs are on the way while the pet food can be found located under the sink.
Your rough draft is you yakking. It’s time to find the cat’s food you’ve been eating: your thesis. If your neighbor arrives and you’re no longer in your cell phone’s reach and the gossip from last week is going to be less important than cat food. Begin with your most important idea of the takeaway, and then state it as concisely as possible in the first portion of the draft. It’s what you want readers will take away and that’s the thing that will be the basis for organizing and guiding through the remaining writing.
Take this particular article. I hope that you’ve enjoyed the reading up to now however, the reason for it actually being featured here is A List Apart This isn’t because I’m extremely clever and intelligent. It’s because I’m trying to dismantle the magic that is good writing and show the real easy, non-mystical, and learnable work involved in writing. It is my wish that you walk to the conclusion that, “If writing is really mostly about thinking rather than the wording, I could totally give this writing thing a try.” This is the cat’s food.
I started writing using this mindset with very precise and awkward language such as, “Writing is a teachable/learnable skill that people should learn about more.” The proper phrasing follows but you can clearly see the hint of an idea.
BUT I DON’T REALLY HAVE AN ARGUMENT. I JUST HAVE THIS ANECDOTE TO SHARE.
The majority of how-to guides are formalized stories. This is the way we learn. This is the main point for almost all training documents that is available: “This is what’s worked so far to attain this particular goal and will probably work for you, too.” That’s a great argument! It’s hidden under almost every piece of advice out on the web (including this one): “Here’s what worked for me when I wanted to accomplish [task].” It’s certainly worth writing it down. Think about the number of Google search results that are usually addressed by this type of data.
A personal story can be extremely useful, particularly in a constantly evolving area like Web design and Development. In order to transform your story from a simple story into something more significant, however here are some points to consider.
The first thing to consider is why did this portion of your experience stick for you specifically? Did this be the moment when something clicked with you about your job?
Then, what made you believe that things went in the way they did? Did you feel surprised? Do you think differently as a result? If you write this down what is the distinction between writing for yourself or journaling to an audience.
Is this something that you and others in your line of work are likely to overlook? Are you able to determine if it was a rookie mistake or an unintentional oversight across the entire industry? If you’ve searched on the internet for similar views Do you find an abundance of inaccurate information? Or is the information you want to know just not available that other professionals within your field might look it up?
Helping your readers
Editors, as I generally get into this stage. This is the point when you’re no longer writing for your own sake, but rather writing to an audience. It’s possible that you had an idea of a theme that you’d like to investigate in the initial draft however, now, you must begin thinking about the readers you’re writing for. Based on the rough version, you’ve now got an understanding of the main idea of your essay. There might be a few people who’ll read your succinct overview and instantly take a position that they agree with.
However, most people will require additional explanation or some convincing to accept your view. That’s where the support arguments will come in.
The phrase “supporting arguments” probably recalls a few five-paragraph-essay-fueled nightmares for you, and I won’t pretend it isn’t a pain to dig back into your draft’s structure to work out strong organization. However, supporting your main argument isn’t a chore you just do to impress the students who don’t know you’re there. You’re doing it to your readers–the ones that aren’t part of your brain and do not benefit from the shared neural connections.
A strong argument, as a result, adds weight and credibility to your main argument by demonstrating its relevance in similar circumstances. Return to your primary point of departure and imagine that a skeptical person responds with the question “Why?” Why is this assertion is it true? Why is it important? or, even better, “What does that do for me?” Sometimes you’ll require concrete data. Sometimes, simply providing a clear illustration will allow your readers to be able to follow the story. (The method I’ve used is the one I’ve used.) It’s not necessary to impress people with your brilliance this is an exchange of ideas, not an argument.
How many arguments for supporting your argument suffice? In essence, you need to reach a stage where the unanswered “Why?” questions from the skeptics you imagine are not within the realm of your subject. (“Why you should create?” Because it’s good for your job. “Why is it good for my work?” Because it makes you work efficiently. “Why should I work more purposefully?” …maybe you can talk to your boss or therapy therapist about this last question.)
NO THANKS, HAVING READERS SOUNDS HARSH AND SCARY.
It’s easy to look at the “why” questions and imagine some sort of antagonistic group. The majority of readers aren’t however, and typically, they’re distracted and require reminders of what you’re talking about. Picture someone with only one eye on the game of football or one eye on a tense toddler.
You’re trying to be a friend to your readers by the fact that you’d like to pay them respect and attention. With the exception of a few literature circles, you have no reason to force your readers to struggle to comprehend the meaning of what you’re trying. Every argument you provide or instance you present must be clearly connected to your primary point. it’s all a waste of time in the event that your readers wander off before reaching the cat’s food.
When I write out my thoughts the details of my project, I tend to make the connections too literal, so that it’s easy for my brain to keep the track of where my brain is headed (e.g., “Explain why a clear organizational structure makes it easier for readers to keep their attention on your writing”) And later, I’ll flesh out the transitions between sections and the language to make them seem more organic (e.g. this section).
This is an ongoing component of the process as well. When you begin showing others your drafts, the best question to ask at every step is “Did you get lost anywhere?” This is one of the only questions that people will respond to honestly because they’ll usually believe that “getting lost” is something that affects their reading comprehension, not the organization of their writing. (Think again!)
If someone gets lost? This doesn’t mean that your argument isn’t an unwinnable battle Perhaps it just requires more effort to get it out of the tangles of your brain.
The process of becoming “good” writing
You now have the framework of a well-constructed essay. In the world of editing, this is a long way off the road to publication. the majority of what is left is line editing to enhance word choice and sentence structure.
This is also where, unfortunately, word geeks become somewhat intimidating due to their enthusiasm. (Disclaimer: I’m one of them. Don’t take it personally. We are all here for these things.) This won’t be the point that can make or end your essay. You’ve already completed the effort to create the structure.
Now you’ll be able to clarify the meaning of long phrases or alter the order of your paragraphs in order to keep the story flow on track. It’s a totally different process than the writing you wrote earlier. Sometimes, it’s more rewarding (it is a joy to get sentences to sing) However, it can also come with more issues (instead of just sluggishly advancing this is the time when you must ensure that your grammatical tenses are in order). Here at ALA, We’re fairly strict at this phase, and we generally begin the writing process together with our authors. Each magazine has its own unique style however, the editors of many newspapers are more active in the hope of having a consistent voice, however, a blog that is less formal may give each contributor plenty of space for their individuality to be seen.
Even if you’re creating content for a publication that has an editorial team of its own This is a great opportunity to attract the newest readers you can. They’ll get confused by all those strangely written sentences, repetitive words, or misspellings you’ve glanced over a hundred times. At times end when a typo is spotted or the grammar isn’t flawless, it won’t make you a less effective communicator, which is what the whole exercise was about.
I’ve come across a few people who have great ideas but aren’t a fan of writing. Even for those who write frequently the process can become a difficult process. (By the time you make it through copyediting, and on the website, you’ll be reading the ninth edition of this piece.)
The payoff is worthwhile. Whatever your professional journey and whether you’ve got many years of experience or an entirely new perspective to share, putting your thoughts down will give you the ability to take a new approach to the things you do. It focuses on all aspects and “whys” of the job and transforms old routines into deliberate actions. It equips you with the ability to communicate effectively and sell your services and yourself to your boss and customers.
That’s what creating with purpose appears to be. We require to see more on the internet the same way you require it in your daily life. Not just words and the process of thinking. It the not only noise but a signal. Send your ideas to us. We’d be delighted to hear about your ideas.
