Different kinds of writing
There are many different kinds of writing, and it is important to understand the difference between them. Of course you might be writing a book, a fiction or non-fiction piece of literature, a novel, some poetry, a screenplay. Or a research report or even a summary of a business meeting. We talk about methods and tools that make the craft of writing. We know that writing is deep in creativity, and we touch on some tools and techniques also. We hope that this article starts you off in a good direction, whether you are writing a crime, romance or other everyday life story detailing a human experience, or something more factual!
While both types of writing can be enjoyable, there are differences between the two. Creative writing is different because it uses language to express emotions, thoughts, and feelings. It is not required to adhere to any particular structure or use any particular writing devices. Instead, it can surprise readers with unexpected twists and turns. It is usually used in educational texts and professional documentation.
The second type of writing is persuasive. This type of writing aims to influence the reader to take an action. It may be written in a convincing way, such as by telling them the consequences of not taking action. It's also known as information writing, and is one of the most common kinds of writing.
Literacy is an important skill to learn and we see the impact of writing today - not just in books, but in a podcast, video, an interview, or other online media. Ultimately as an art, practice makes perfect - but I imagine most writers will feel their writing is never finished! Not all of us have a master's degree in writing so in this article we'll start outlining some important topics.
Writing a story or book
When writing a story or book, there are several steps to follow. First of all, you need to keep your mind open. Write when you are inspired. Having others read your work is very helpful for spotting mistakes and identifying plot holes. Many publishers charge for editing; it may be worth paying for editing for a larger book.
The next step is to focus on details. Detailed descriptions are what prompt readers to continue reading. You can use the analogy of painting a picture and make sure your readers can visualize the setting, character, and story. Once you can provide detailed descriptions, you can focus on the main themes of the story.
Then, you should take time to read your first draft carefully to understand its tone and theme. Having a clear focus for your story is crucial to writing the second draft. Distracting scenes or passages should be cut before the story reaches its final stage. You may also need to make major changes or even delete a few pages.
This is something that can be discussed in much more details, imagine the work that goes into a television show!
Writing a research report or article
The first step in writing a research report is to gather as much information as possible. You can do this by reading the literature and talking to people who have studied the topic before. It is also important to be familiar with the industry terminology to prevent misunderstandings and errors. Finally, you should write with your intended audience in mind. If your report is intended for a general audience, you will likely need to write it in a straightforward style, while if you want to present your research to experts, you will have to write it in a more technical tone.
You should also include an abstract that summarizes your research. This should be between one and three pages long and contain a clear problem statement, question statement, literature review, and methodology. It should also include the results of the research and a discussion of possible future directions.
Writing a business meeting briefing
When writing a business meeting briefing, it is important to include a clear, concise description of what happened during the meeting. In general, it should include a brief summary of all open issues and new business. The report should not contain personal remarks or quotes from participants, but should focus on the decisions that were made. The report should also be written in an objective tone, free of any slant or bias.
It is important to provide a clear overview of the meeting and include only the important items, such as decisions or assignments. The briefing should also be short and to the point, so participants can quickly identify what needs to be done. Be sure to include a timetable for the meeting, and make sure that it includes enough time for everyone to prepare for it.
The minutes of a meeting should be clearly documented, with an outline for note taking. The minutes should note who was present and who wasn't present. The agenda should also include the list of attendees, and attendees should be checked off at the beginning of the meeting. If the meeting is formal, then a specific format for the minutes is necessary. For example, some meetings follow Rules of Order, and the minutes should follow the same rules.
Writing a blog article
When writing blog articles, you must use concrete and accurate descriptions that can easily grab your readers. Avoid vague and abstract statements, and use examples and metaphors. In addition to using concrete descriptions, you can also add images in your blog post. They can make your blog post more digestible and effective.
In order to write a blog article that is popular with readers, you should choose a topic related to your writing style. In addition, make sure to align the topic of the article with popular keywords. This will help you rank for relevant keywords without facing stiff competition from popular websites. Aside from that, it is also essential to learn some basic online marketing strategies.
Using Google to analyze your website blog post can also help you determine what your audience is looking for. Once you know what they are looking for, make sure to match your intro to the content. The main goal of writing a blog post is to get your readers to stay on it, so make sure you deliver.
Using an outline for your themes or plot
Outlines are useful tools for writers. They alert the writer to areas that require research and check-ups. Outlines also save the writer time in editing. However, they do not limit the freedom of the author. They can make changes to the themes and plot of their stories after they have completed the first draft.
Outlines help writers to connect different themes or concepts in their stories. They can help them identify scenes that feel out of place or characters who need to be introduced in different ways. Outlines also allow them to move around scenes to help make them work better. They allow you to check for logical errors and highlight parts that need more work.
Outlines also help writers keep focus on their projects. By creating an outline, a writer can stay on track throughout the entire writing process. They can also help them brainstorm ideas and move from idea to idea or chapter to chapter.
Best writing tools for creating outlines
There are couple of nice tools that we would like to bring to your attention.
The first is the use of a mindmap tool - like Xmind or Edraw mind. What we like about such tools is that they allow you to visualize your thoughts and then create an outline of your story or article in text form.
Another popular tool in the form of index cards is Scrivener. It is an index card and writing app. While the index card function is somewhat limited from customer reviews, is it a well used tool by the writing industry.
Finally, there is of course our own NoteDex index cards notecard software, that allows you a great deal of flexibility when creating index cards. You can create your plot outlines on each card and even use our storyboard / corkboard / kanban workflow view to visualize and organize your plot, thoughts and ideas, and manage your blog writing workflow. You can export your text of the cards and edit them in Microsoft Word or other similar tool like Google Docs.
Conclusion
There are several key points to consider when writing a conclusion. First of all, it is critical that the conclusion is not an afterthought. It should be a climax of the work, reminding the reader of the central points of the piece. Additionally, it should leave the reader nodding in agreement. You may not be able to win over every reader with your conclusion, but the goal is to leave them thinking.
Second, the conclusion must contain a call to action. Remember to tie up any loose ends. In addition, you can mention whether you fulfilled any of your readers' expectations. Remember, most writers are generous and don't like to end their work without giving more information than they gave in the beginning. One of the easiest ways to ruin your conclusion is by trying to teach readers something that they don't already know.
Finally, a good conclusion should be detailed and concrete. Instead of beginning with a phrase like "in conclusion," write concrete details in the conclusion that make sense.