Getting started is the hardest part of writing. Sometimes, the main topic is very difficult to find and often you are confused about where to start. However, for professionals who want to write articles in magazines, want to write novels, or high school students who are having trouble writing, there are many writing strategies that can help you get started.
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Part 1 of 4: Cultivating Ideas and Writing
Step 1. Take time for idea discovery activities
Writing is a process and the first stage in the writing process is the discovery stage. Discovery helps you come up with ideas for a paper, book, poem, novel, or whatever else you're about to write. Although this stage is one of the most important parts of the writing process, many people tend to skip this part. Of course this is wrong, because if ideas are not explored in depth, your writing will be of low quality and shallow.
- If you're having trouble getting started, make sure you complete at least one idea discovery activity before starting your draft. However, it is even better if you complete more than one idea discovery activity.
- Try starting with something that helps you generate ideas, such as freewriting or list building, then move on to things that will help you explore ideas more deeply, such as grouping, questioning, or breaking down.
- When you've considered a few topics, make sure you pick something that interests you so that it's easier and less boring for you.
Step 2. Do freewriting for 15 minutes
Get a pen and paper or open a new document on your computer. Set a 15 minute timer and start writing! Write down whatever comes to mind and don't limit or improve your writing.
- Even if your mind is blank, just write, “My mind is blank” over and over until you find something to write about. Most importantly, you write for 15 minutes.
- When you're done, read what you wrote. You can pick up useful pieces of writing and develop them the next time you're free-writing.
- Keep in mind that free writing activities should not be used as the initial draft of the paper. This activity is a way of looking for ideas and the results are often chaotic and unorganized. If you submit your free handwriting as an initial draft of the paper, of course you will get a bad grade.
Step 3. Make a list
Listing can help you explore topics to write about. Grab a pen and paper or open a new document on your computer and list as many topics as you can think of. Like free writing, don't limit yourself and improve your writing. Just pour whatever you think.
- For example, for an agriculture class research paper, you could write about topics like vertical farming, livestock welfare, crop rotation, and so on.
- When the list is complete, identify some of the topics that are most striking to you and study these topics for your writing project. Consider how well this topic fits the task criteria, how interesting the topic you choose is, and how the topic can be adapted to your needs.
- If you have chosen a topic, you should do free writing about the topic to generate ideas and knowledge that will be used in writing.
Step 4. Make a mind map
A mind map can help you explore a topic in greater depth, describe its relationships, and begin to determine how to structure your ideas. Your mind map will look like circles connected by lines.
- Take a pen and paper and draw a circle in the middle. Write your topic in the circle.
- Next, draw a line extending out from the circle, and draw another circle at the end. Write subtopics of your main topic in this new circle.
- Continue to draw lines from the main topic and subtopic circles to illustrate the relationship between these ideas.
Step 5. Ask
Asking is an idea finding strategy that is also good enough to help test your topic. Use “Who? Is? When? Where? Why? How? to determine if your topic is worth writing about and developing. Consider your topic and then write responses to the following questions:
- Who is related to this topic?
- What are the key issues related to this topic?
- When did the problem start?
- Where did this problem occur?
- Why did this problem occur?
- How to solve this problem?
Step 6. Talk to someone about your idea
Discussing topic ideas can also help you test your feasibility and explore your existing knowledge. Discuss your ideas with friends or teachers who can approach your topic from a different perspective to get valuable input from them.
If you're writing a term paper, schedule an appointment with your teacher or professor. You can say, “I have an idea for my next paper and I hope you can read it and rate it. Can I meet you before or after class?”
Step 7. Draw an outline
Once you have a topic in mind, you can begin to structure those ideas to define an outline. A short paper can be described in each paragraph individually. For long papers, write short descriptions of important events and arrange them in their order in the story. Draw a character map that shows how the people in the story interact and how they feel about each other.
Keep in mind that the outline can be made as detailed as possible. For example, you can create bullet points with the topic sentence in each paragraph and sub-points for the ideas to be discussed in that paragraph, or simply list the ideas to be discussed in the order you want them to be
Part 2 of 4: Putting Ideas on Paper
Step 1. Set a time to complete your draft
Drafting is the hardest part of the writing process, even if you have a lot of ideas. The best thing you can do is take time just to write. For example, you plan to only write drafts from 8-10 am on a Saturday night.
- Make sure you allow at least two hours to sit down and write the script. Turn off the phone, ask family members not to be disturbed, and eliminate any distractions that may arise.
- Gather all notes from the discovery activity before starting to write. By the time you've done some of the discovery activities, you should already know where to start and how to structure your story idea. If not, it's a good idea to spend a little time outlining the topic before getting started.
Step 2. Take ample time to create an introduction
Writing an introduction can be difficult, so take some time to think about what to include in your introduction. You should also pay attention to common mistakes in writing introductions.
- Try writing an introduction that will draw readers into the story and connect them to the topic being written about. Maybe you can start with a question, provide an illustrative example, or explain a difficult concept.
- Avoid writing extensive history in your intro. This method sometimes goes too wide and confuses the reader. Try not to start your writing with a sentence like, "Since the dawn of human civilization…" or "In the history of human life…"
- Don't start with a definition from a dictionary. Intros like this are very banal and usually unnecessary. Try not to start writing with the sentence “KBBI defines friendship as…” or “According to KBBI…”
Step 3. Set aside time to rest
Some people prefer to write drafts while others prefer to write little by little. Choose what works best for you, but make sure you take a break every two hours. You will lose concentration if you write for more than two hours. Stand up and stretch, go for a walk, or grab a snack after writing for a long time.
Step 4. Ask for feedback
When the first draft is complete, ask someone to read it and rate it. Ask your teacher, friends, or parents. Explain if the reader doesn't know the purpose of your assignment or the reason for your writing.
- For example, if you ask a friend to read your paper, tell them the reason for writing the paper, the criteria for the assignment, and any special concerns you have (if any) about your writing.
- Universities sometimes have a writing center where students can enter or schedule an appointment with a writing teacher for free. The writing teacher will read the paper and identify ways to improve your writing.
Step 5. Revise your writing
If you have received suggestions and feedback, it's time to improve your writing. Just like writing a draft, take two hours to revise your writing.
- Keep in mind that revision is not the same as proofreading. Proofreading is the final step of the writing process to correct minor mistakes and polish your writing. Revision is when you look at your paper from a new perspective and consider ways to improve the quality of your writing. In revision, you may have to delete, add, rearrange, or expand paragraphs already in the draft.
- When revised, make sure you underline all areas that need improvement according to reader input. Also, reread your writing and look for areas that need detailing, sources that need improvement, and a narrower focus.
- Remember that writing is a process and often iterative. Sometimes revisions require that you add a lot of text to explain a concept or strengthen an argument. Thus, you need to go back to the idea discovery stage.
- If possible, take breaks between drafting and revising. Set aside an hour or a few days between drafting and revising so that you see your writing with fresh eyes and a fresh mind. Thus, problems and solutions will be easier to identify.
Part 3 of 4: Getting In The Mood To Write
Step 1. Lower your standards
A poet named William Stafford once wrote, "there is no such thing as writer's block if the standards are low enough." It does sound a bit strange: how can we write a popular novel if we write like an elementary school kid? However, it is this mindset that makes the writer dissatisfied with his writing and finally gives up.
- Great writers create multiple drafts and get judged by professional editors. the first draft is never good. However, by sitting down and finishing writing, you can know which ones are good and which ones need improvement. From there, your ideas will be easier to upgrade.
- Writing also takes practice. It takes several failed scripts to be able to write well.
Step 2. Write every day
Make writing a natural habit. Try sitting down every morning to write a few pages. If you don't know what to write, keep a dream journal. Write down what you dreamed about last night. This method can also increase your creativity.
Step 3. Do light exercises
People who exercise regularly have a more creative mindset. If you have writer's block, a little exercise will distract you and your anxiety and ideas will flow back into your head.
- Take a walk outside to calm your mind.
- If you need more energy, try jogging for a while.
- In addition, you can also stretch for a few minutes to relax yourself.
Step 4. Drink coffee
Caffeine will increase chemical reactions in the brain that produce energy naturally. By consuming caffeine, your concentration and energy will increase. In this way, some of the psychological conditions that cause the need can be overcome, including self-doubt and lack of commitment.
- Caffeine also has other properties that will improve your writing, such as improving short-term memory and cognitive abilities.
- However, keep in mind that caffeine also has negative effects such as disturbing your sleep. Consume caffeine wisely and drink only in the morning.
Step 5. Play some music
Music can improve concentration. Music also inspires emotion so you can put it on paper. Depending on your musical taste, loud music will interfere with the writing process. If so, try playing mood music without lyrics.
Jazz and classical music are great choices to accompany your writing
Step 6. Find a new location
If you're having trouble focusing in your current environment or feeling uninspired, try writing in a new place. The campus library has many sources that can be used as references. The cafe provides coffee and a solemn atmosphere that makes you feel comfortable writing.
Step 7. Read it
Look for inspirational writing that can bring your mood to write. However, a good writer should always read. It's important to use other people's writing as a reference for how you write. You also need to write to find out how to adapt your work to current literature or to innovate in a writing genre.
Step 8. Eliminate distractions
If the television distracts you, turn it off. If you live with a lot of people or the streets are busy, find a quieter place. Try downloading a program that removes distractions from your computer.
One of the difficulties in writing today is that the computer as the best medium for writing is also the biggest source of distraction. However, there is a way around it. You can download programs that allot your time spent on social media. Writing programs can restrict your access to other computer functions so that your focus is 100% on writing
Step 9. Start a routine
Great writers have different routines, but almost all have routines. It's a good idea to choose a routine that fits your energy level and daily schedule. Once set, your mind will naturally shift to writing when it's time to sit down and work.
- For example, Simone de Beauvoir always starts her day with a cup of tea, reviews her writing from the previous day, writes for a few hours, takes a short break, then returns to work after dinner.
- Determine a specific place and time to write. This routine can signal the brain when it is time to start working.
- Maybe you should always have a cup of coffee or tea before writing. Maybe you should always have music playing. Maybe you need breakfast before you start writing. Make as many atmospheric cues as you can to get your brain up and running.
Part 4 of 4: Practice in Different Formats
Step 1. Create a blog
Blogs are a great place to post your writing for others to read. The responses of others can help you learn and grow as a writer. You might even get to know other writers.
Try doing an interview. Ask famous people if they would like to be interviewed. You'd be surprised how many people want free publicity. A big name will invite new readers
Step 2. Write a book review
Review a book and submit it to a local newspaper or site that is interested in the topic. Thus, you have the opportunity to raise your name. What's more, dipping into the work of great writers will give you a new perspective on your own creative style.
Step 3. Write a short article
Short articles for magazines, websites, and newspapers may not be your main reason for writing. However, these writings will help lift your name and a little extra income for a living as a writer. More importantly, working under the tutelage of experienced editors will get you used to the tempo and professional writing style.
