Is Article Writing Dead (Part II - Pre-Writing Strategies)

[valpubs]

Why would you need a pre-writing strategy?

Pre-writing is an excellent tool to achieve four outcomes:

• Enabling yourself to think more clearly about the subject
• See a start to your article / eBook
• Keeping a track of your ideas
• Practice your own style of writing

There are three main strategies to pre-writing: List making, Brainstorming and Free writing.

List making is as simple as it sounds. Just jot down a list of ideas around the themes of your article. It is basic but it can be useful.
Free writing is almost as simple in that all you have to do is write down whatever words come to mind when you think about your article subject matter. Don't edit these words - just let them come out.
Brainstorming is of more use when there is a small group of you. You can then each throw up words and then associate other words or ideas to them.

Once you have your ideas in word form; now is the time to give them some sort of order. As if by magic there are another 3 tools that the majority of writers use:

• Outlining
• Mind mapping
• Diagramming

Outlining is a brilliant strategy because it enables you to start 'chunking out' the body of your article.
Mind mapping is more of a visual aid where you put your main subject in the center of the page and draw lines out from it that you can associate with different themes or ideas within the article.
Diagramming is my personal favorite because it combines both mind maps and outlines which allows me to visualize what each paragraph of my article (or chapter of my ebook) will contain.

I'll have the next article up as soon as possible.

Remember to add anything below if I've missed out a particular type of strategy.

Cheers

Val

[magicman]

Hi guys,

I've had some success using the "logical step" outline.  You know, "1) you put your right hand out, 2) you put your right in....(Hokey-Pokey).

Also the "You don't know (XXXXX?)...let me share the news" process which often dovetails nicely with the above technique.

BTW -- Dom -- this is an awesome contribution from you.  Thank you very much. -- MM

[KarenMcG]

Hi guys,

I've had some success using the "logical step" outline.  You know, "1) you put your right hand out, 2) you put your right in....(Hokey-Pokey).

Also the "You don't know (XXXXX?)...let me share the news" process which often dovetails nicely with the above technique.

BTW -- Dom -- this is an awesome contribution from you.  Thank you very much. -- MM

Ah, MM.   

Now I suppose that could be a little "hokey-pokey!"

Actually, I think your input is spot on.

And, Dom, I agree with MM.  You have produced a really fantastic series of information regarding article marketing. 

I'm hoping you're going to put that into something--like maybe a report or an audio. 

Karen

[valpubs]

MM , Karen

Many thanks for your kind words.

MM "...Also the "You don't know (XXXXX?)...let me share the news" process which often dovetails nicely with the above technique." Loving that idea for a headline.

Karen: It's a start for an idea I have 

Cheers

Val