Tip #1: Write first, worry later

If you’re writing for the web but aren’t an experienced writer, communicating clearly and precisely can be a frustrating effort. An idea can be so clear in our minds and yet wind up unrecognizable when we translate it into words.

Bridging our ideas and words is all a part of the process of becoming a better writer, and there are countless techniques we can use to accomplish this. One of them is to write first and worry later.

Sometimes, when we’re struggling for the right word, we’ll become fixated on an idea and lose our train of thought. We’ll spend several minutes searching for the perfect word or phrase and then forget where that idea was leading. Don’t worry too much about phrasing a sentence just right the first time. Get your ideas down on the page while they’re fresh, and then worry about how they sound later.

Try even hurtling through a first draft in stream-of-consciousness fashion. Write down everything in your head, not spending more than a few seconds thinking about the right word or phrase. The result may not be pretty, but you’ll have a basic outline of what you want to say, and polishing it will be a much easier process.

Content only really begins to take shape when you rewrite it, so don’t get too attached to the first draft. Even for a medium with as fast a publishing pace as the web’s, relying on multiple drafts can save you time in the end.

Of course, not every technique will work for everyone. And no one technique will be useful all the time. People employ different methods according to their style and circumstances. But this one may get you out of jam if you’re the type to wallow in your thoughts.

We’ll cover other writing and editing tips in future postings.