WRITER'S BLOCK: TO OUTLINE OR NOT

You may be surprised that I'm even suggesting that we write from an outline since I typically talk about freewriting.  Yet the two are not incompatible.

In a blog post by Creative Article Marketing recently, the suggestion was made to outline in a far less formal way than we all learned in school.   In using the "outline" suggested, there is plenty of room for freewriting.

The basic "soft outline" includes:

(1) identifying the topic

(2) jotting down some specific points to refer to

There are other points mentioned as well, which apply specifically to writing articles; however, the two above points are a way to move into the writing mode, regardless of the goal.  Being in the writing mode is what's important for whatever kind of writing, whether free or focused.

Very often when I'm writing my blogs, I'm inspired by something I've read.  In this case an "outline" or even a "soft outline" is not needed.

It's gratifying to see how once there's something in front of us, whether a soft outline,or just something like an article  (or it could be a conversation we recently heard, or something we just observed, or a news item we heard), to stimulate us, the writing can flow.

And, if nothing external gets the writer in us going, there's always simply freewriting.  Just putting pen to paper, or fingers to computer.

For more on overcoming writer's block see OVERCOME WRITER'S BLOCK EASILY.