How to Create an Outline for all your Articles

There are two types of people when it comes to article writing – those who would rather not bother and those who actually rather quite like it. In either scenario what separates ‘the men from the boys’ is preparation. You need to have clearly defined methods and procedures in your article writing.

A very good way to start your article is to create an outline. By doing this you will be prepared, you have a good idea what steps you will take in the completion of your article. Preparation makes your job easier and you will undoubtedly finish quicker too. Your uncertainty will be lost and your highly organised approach to your article will help you.

Your outline is the basis of your article – it is your articles heart. Your outline should contain your basic three steps of a beginning, a middle and an end. At each step, write down your ideas for your article and perhaps some phrases or sentences that can be pivotal in your article. This outline will be the focal point which will keep your article interesting and make it creative enough to appeal to a reader.

Ensuring your writing is carefully planned will help you to create a great article and will make sure that it is a stress free project. If you get into the routine of creating an outline for all your articles, you will sail through writing articles without any problems. Below is some advice on how to create a good outline for all of your articles.

Brainstorming is a great way to bring all your ideas to one place to enable you to collate them. Think as a reader – what will bring you to the article? Make a timetable and give yourself a deadline at which all your ideas need to be written down. Then research some of the ideas you have. Read your ideas – you need to know your topic inside and out. Check all your notes and be familiar with your text, then when you need to write them down, they will be at the forefront of your mind.

Once your outline is defined, you will need to consider your sub topic and titles. It is important to have a readers attention at the first line of your article but it is equally as important to keep that attention when going through it too. Your sub topics and sub titles need to have as much interest. You need all the facts and figures to prove the point in your article.

This is the basis of your article. Outline, sub topic and sub titles. Now on to the body of your article, it’s the meaty part – this is the very reason your article has been picked up. Your article needs to match up perfectly to your outline and sub topics. Your beginning will tease them into reading on, your middle will give the facts and your conclusion will bring both of these sections together and prove the point to your article.

It is recommended to write a draft article first. You won’t be happy with your first attempt but don’t give up – after all it is only a draft!  Each time you re-write your draft article it will get better. No-one will be criticising your draft so there’s no need to worry about it.  The more you write, the more your article will improve and even you will be surprised at how perfect it ends up to be.

Completely re-read your article at every opportunity.  Keep your outline to hand and make sure you don’t get waylaid by another topic. Don’t get carried away – stick to the outline and your article will be the better for it. Your outline is the guide to your article. Make sure you use it at all times and it will not let you down as your most useful writing tool.