six steps to good writing

Six steps to good writing.


Today we will look at a technique that can save you a heap of time. Good writing. If you can write well, you can communicate clearly and quickly and will save yourself time in repeating things, and having to rediscuss points.

Step 1: Be Clear about your purpose. Why are you writing this? What do you want your reader to know? To do? How do you want your reader to feel?

Step 2: Plan what you will say. Jot down the key points you want to make. Then put them in a logical sequence. Then gather any facts that you will need.

Step 3: Draft your document. Have a specific reader in mind and write to that person. Why should they read it? Use the WIFM factor to help you: What’s In It For Me? Ask the question from the reader’s point of view. Be yourself: use normal language, not flowery and not overly formal. Aim for a readable, natural flow of ideas.

Step 4: Edit it. Read through your document to ensure that it is clear and says what you want it to say. Change any obscure words to familiar words, long words to short words, complex sentences into shorter, similar ones. Prune unnecessary words and get ride of any trite phrases.

Step 5: Type or word process the final draft.

Step 6: Check it carefully. If time allows, it often helps to leave it for a day or two before the final check. Don’t just glance over it but really check it through. Does it make sense? Are words spelled correctly and is grammar correct? Does the information flow smoothly? Are there logical transitions between major points? How does the layout look? Are margins big enough? Is there enough space between paragraphs? Erasures, overtyping and poor-quality print in written documents will cause them to lose their ‘eye appeal’ and look unprofessional.

In other news…

Your editors children – and himself – are on the mend after a stomach bug. It is always a good feeling, when you start feeling better again.

We were feeling that good, that we have started a spring clean up of the house. We have only recently moved to our new house – less than a year, but have already seemed to have collected large volumes of “stuff” for want of a better word.

It is a hard process to go through. Your editor likes to hang on to things; his wife doesn’t. To keep the marriage sound, his wife has resorted to donating things during working hours when her husband isn’t home!!!