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We all know how writing is supposed to work; the “real” writer is hit by a brilliant idea and just lets the words flow.

You (and I), on the other hand, can’t get the words to come out even when we have that brilliant idea. We have a lot to say, but what should come first?

Much of writer’s block is a matter of not knowing how to get started. On the other hand, getting started is a matter of organization. There are a variety of ways to get your thoughts together; here are a couple that have worked for me.

The Outline

Most of us have encountered outlines at one time or another. I find them especially helpful when I’m writing an essay (or its equivalent in the form of an editorial or a blog post).

Your essay will likely have three sections: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. In the introduction, you tell your readers what they’re in store for: “Here is the world as I view it.” In the body, you back up the points you’re making; arguments, evidence, and research all go in this section. Your conclusion is essentially a repetition of the introduction: “As you can now see, this is really the only reasonable point of view.”

If you’ve approached your outline effectively, it will all fit together. The body will support your introduction without going off on tangents, and the conclusion will wrap up the first two sections without introducing new ideas. Here is the general structure:

A. Introduction

 I. The world as I see it

B. Body

 I. Supporting point

 a. discussion

 II. Supporting point

 b. discussion

 III. And so on …

C. Conclusion

 I. You should be on my side by now

Once you have the structure, you insert individual points into your outline like hanging ornaments on a tree. This also gives you a chance to spot weaknesses early in the process. By the time your outline is finished, the writing should be much easier. Depending on how detailed you make the outline, you will know where just about every sentence should be headed.

The Brain Dump

If you chafe at the structure imposed by an outline, you can try this approach. It’s messier, but it works for me.

The brain dump involves writing–or typing–ideas one after another. At this point I’m not trying to compose, I’m just getting these ideas out in front of me. I type in a sentence, hit return, type in another sentence, and so on.

At this point, I can treat my essay like a puzzle, rearranging ideas until they’re in an order that makes some sense. This approach also helps me identify weaknesses before I get started writing in earnest, and I can add ideas as needed.

The brain dump, like the outline, gives me a road map as I start to compose. While it may not look pretty, it does provide an effective stepping stone between the brilliant idea and the brilliant published essay.

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