Writing as a process

Journalist Chip Scanlan says, “Good writing may be magical, but it’s not magic. It is the by-product of a rational series of decisions and actions.” He says writing requires a process of reporting, focusing, organizing, drafting and rewriting information into clear and lively prose.

While Scanlan was speaking specifically of newswriting, his advice also applies to other kinds of writing.

Good writing starts with an idea that is shaped into a “story” that answers who, what, when, where, why and how. Writers take the background information from our clients, the learnings we have around the product or service, and anything else we can dig up, and focus the copy on the most important point(s), organizing it in a way that makes sense.

With the first draft done, we rewrite it again and again (and sometimes again and again), self-editing and often re-focusing and re-organizing along the way.

A writer of any kind has the responsibility to uncover the story and tell it in a way that captivates an audience, leaving a lasting impression. Does your copy do that? If not, check out my web site for more on when a professional writer can help.

By JanO on 8/30/07, In writing, Tags advice, dialogue, great copy, hate to write, how to write, ideas, non writers, relevant copy, self-publishing, shortcuts, typing, writing mistakes