As the writer in the family, I’m automatically assigned to helping the kids with any type of homework assignment that includes writing. Have an essay due? Go get mom to read it. Have a research paper to work on? Mom can help with that.
Mostly, I don’t mind my role as writing helper. It’s an honor to be part of my kids’ education.
One thing that I have been trying to get across to them, however, is the important role that planning and organization plays in good writing. To this end, I am trying to encourage them to create outlines before they start writing their actual assignments. (While stream-of-consciousness writing may be effective and appropriate in some situations, I think that it fails to communicate more often than it succeeds.)
While there are all kinds of new organizational techniques (mind mapping, brainstorming, and word association come to mind), I usually find myself falling back on the old basic method of outlining that I first learned: introduction, body, conclusion. This is the basic writing technique that I am trying to teach to my kids.
For some reason, I can still hear that writing teacher of many years ago explaining those components in this way:
- Introduction. Tell them what you’re going to tell them.
- Body. Tell them (usually with at least three points).
- Conclusion. Tell them what you told them.
A second organizational skill that I hope to impart to my kids is that it is important to keep like thoughts together. If you’re in a paragraph talking about the role of Simon from the “American Idol” television show, don’t suddenly switch subjects in the middle of the paragraph and start talking about how to become an “American Idol” contestant. So, even if your writing topic is the “American Idol” television show, your writing will be much more effective if it is organized.
I have to confess. Outlines have saved me on more than one occasion. I’m the kind of person who usually has tons of ideas floating around in my head. Sometimes I worry that I’ll forget the details about really good idea before I can have time to get it actually written down. (Don’t those good ideas seem to come at the most inconvenient times?) I’ve found that, even when I don’t have time to write the whole piece, if I take a few moments and jot down a quick outline, then the idea is saved. It’s a breeze to go back later and fill out the outline!
It’s easy in our rushed world to be like my kids and try to jump right into our writing without planning and organization. I’m guilty of it too. In the long run, however, planning and organization are critical parts of the writing process. Even professional writers can benefit from the basics!
8 responses so far ↓
1 Lisa Vella // Mar 9, 2007 at
This post and your last one really go hand in hand, don’t they? The more we read the more naturally those transitions and organizational skills seem to come. Great post!
2 Laura // Mar 9, 2007 at
Thanks Lisa! I wasn’t really going for a series, but you are right. The more we read, the better our own writing becomes.
3 benning // Mar 9, 2007 at
I hate writing outlines. But I found, during the writing of my first novel, that the outline I finally wrote helped me out tremendously. For the sequel I have the outline ready. I’m midway through Chapter three, but that outline gets a glance before each chapter, just to make sure I’m on track.
I also keep a page that lists the characters in each chapter, and one with important notes on them. Since I’m writing historical fiction it helps to be sure of the facts!
Organization won’t help if you are a lousy writer. But it will help if you’re not too bad. LOL
4 Laura // Mar 9, 2007 at
Benning,
Those are some great tips! I could see how one could easily lose track of the facts when writing historical fiction, IF one weren’t careful.
BTW, I like reading historical fiction. I’ll have to look for yours.
5 Paula Neal Mooney // Mar 10, 2007 at
Yes, and don’t forget about being the official editor of family Christmas newsletters, important emails and such…
6 Laura // Mar 10, 2007 at
Paula–It’s so true!! There are so many jobs that a family can pile on a writer. I have a close friend who calls me when she needs to know how to spell a word. I say, why don’t you just look it up in the dictionary. She says, “well, I knew that you would know.”
Go figure!!
7 Walter Burek // Mar 14, 2007 at
Laura,
This is basic stuff that many copywriters forget. It’s as important in an ad or tv or radio script as it is in a book or an article. I believe the best advertising is single-minded — and that requires organized thinking.
WGB
8 Laura // Mar 14, 2007 at
Walter,
It IS basic, but I forget it too.
Thanks for coming by!