How to Add Flow to Your Writing

Good writers know the importance of flow. Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done. Not only does it require connecting topics and ideas with clearly-written paragraphs, using concise wording and varying your sentence structure, it also needs to have the right rhythm, tempo and sound. Without these qualities, your writing can quickly get cluttered and dreary, causing your readers to forget or abandon your piece altogether. So, I’ve put together some of the best techniques to make your content easier to read and understand: Plan for Success Before you write anything, it’s helpful to organize your thoughts. Create an outline to figure out the key points you want to discuss, the topics of paragraphs and the logical order your ideas should be presented in. Topic Sentences A topic sentence tells the reader the focus of the paragraph and is often the paragraph’s first sentence, like this one. You should then elaborate on that initial statement with a series of sentences that are related to a single topic. Basically, topic sentences help readers navigate your text and follow your train of thought. Logical Connections In this post, we first discussed the importance of planning ahead, and then went on to describe topic sentences. What if we then started talking about the best clothes to wear while writing. Wait, what? Unconnected ideas are like roadblocks that readers have to change gears to get around. If a topic doesn’t connect well to the previous one, reorganize the paragraphs to maintain the flow of your writing. Remove the roadblocks and you’ll give readers a smoother ride. Concise Wording Clear and concise wording also adds flow to your writing, making sentences easier to follow. We could easily destroy the flow of the previous sentence. Try reading this alternative version: The sentence has the same meaning as the original, but it’s so difficult to follow. As Thomas Jefferson said: â€Å"Never use two words when one will do.† However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t play around with different words and sentence structures. Avoiding repetition improves the flow of your writing. In fact, using a variety of words will not only keep readers interested, it will improve the clarity of your ideas. Here’s a grotesque version of the two previous sentences: â€Å"Avoiding repetition is necessary to improve the flow of your writing. Avoiding repetition is necessary to keep readers interested in your ideas. Avoiding repetition is necessary to improve clarity in your writing.† The wording and structure just kills the flow. It also highlights another potential problem†¦ Sentence Lengths Short sentences are fine. But they can also cause friction. Especially when they are grouped together. This quickly becomes monotonous. There is no variation in sentence length. The reader will soon switch off. Combine shorter sentences into one. It’s more economical. This paragraph is a case in point. Consider this improved version: â€Å"Short sentences are fine, but they can also cause friction, especially when they’re grouped together. It’s monotonous. Try to vary the length of sentences. And, when possible, combine shorter sentences into one, more economical sentence.† Rhythm and Cadence and Beats. Oh My! Basically, cadence is the rhythm of your writing and how words change in pitch when they’re read aloud. A compelling cadence is more than varying sentence lengths. It’s about the texture of words, the sounds of syllables, the ebb and flow of a sentence and knowing when to stop. Remember: a pause can be as vital as a word. The reason why many blog posts fall flat is because they lack the natural rhythm of speech. Pay attention to the rhythm of your copy. Read it aloud. When it sounds awkward, change the words and sentence structure until it works. You’ll know when it sounds right. In case you were wondering, the previous subheading is a riff on â€Å"Lions and tigers and bears. Oh my!† from The Wizard of Oz. It highlights another subtle trick you can use to add flow to your writing: the rule of three. If a sentence lists three things, it often sounds more coherent, convincing and complete. See? The Final Edit So you’ve finished writing your piece. Now walk away from your screen or drop that pen. Give your mind a rest. Because in the end, it’s the editing that matters. Your composition is like a movie; the final edit creates the flow. When you return to your work, remember these tips and apply them to your writing. You’ll produce more coherent, persuasive and engaging content that your readers will love. Discard the clutter, add a phrase here, include a comma there and listen to how it sounds. Fluent writing is a powerful force. It can turn non-believers into fanatics, window-shoppers into customers and brands into heroes.

Creative Inspiration from David Bowie

Creative Inspiration from David Bowie The news of David Bowies death reverberated through the world and caused an outpouring of words of affection, admiration and grief at the loss of such an incredible artist. Bowie was known for his creativity which included not only his music and lyrics but his physical appearance and the personas he created. Any individual seeking creative inspiration can find a gold mine of it in Bowies life and work. Here are some ways David Bowie manifested as a creative genius. Keep Ch-ch-ch-ch-changin Bowie was famous for his ability to constantly reinvent himself. Even in the early days of his fame in the late 60s early 70s, he experimented with different styles from hippie-folk to heavy metal. Perhaps his greatest transformation was the invention of the rock persona Ziggy Stardust. At the time, many felt that Bowie could have ridden the fame and popularity of his Ziggy persona to the end of his career, but at the height of his popularity, he decided to kill Ziggy and move on to other experiments. In America, he explored funk and soul music and then released his most popular album â€Å"Lets Dance† which was the ultimate ode to rock and the most popular of his career. But even the popularity of this album didnt tempt him to ground his artistic vision and his next phase was a Berlin-inspired industrial and house/electronica experiment. Bowies ability to keep moving forward and constantly explore new artistic styles are what made him the icon he became. Indulge in Artistic Angst but Dont Self-Destruct Bowie had some dark moments in his career. One of his most successful and yet darkest phases was during the time he spent in LA. The glamour and glitz of LA stardom, the parties and cocaine-fueled recording sessions sent him on a tailspin into darkness. Unlike other stars riding their fame into self-destruction, like Iggy Pop, Bowie was able to put an end to that phase when he left LA and moved to Berlin. Change of Scene Can Be Inspiring Just as his move from the UK to LA proved to be an enormous boon to his career, his decision to leave LA and station himself in Cold-War Berlin was another artistically driven choice. The grit and realism of Berlin was the complete opposite of the surreal opulence of LA. The experience grounded him as he moved into yet another creatively experimental phase. Collaborate with Other Artists Bowie enjoyed working with other artists and some of his greatest creative endeavors were the result of these collaborations. Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, Brian Eno and Iggy Pop were included in some of his most successful team projects. He once famously called the then virtually unknown guitarist Phil Palmer at his mothers house to ask him to collaborate on an album since he felt his own guitar skills were subpar. He was known for being generous and respectful of other peoples work and didnt let fame or ego get in the way of his artistic vision. Set Your Standards and Stick to Them No matter how famous he became, Bowie didnt abuse his fame. He held himself to a strict work ethic. Though he had a phase where he lost himself in drugs, particularly cocaine, he always managed to pull himself together to perform, record and give interviews. His foil during his LA years was Iggy Pop, who became known for his unpredictability and where Iggy allowed himself to be dragged under by his drug addiction, Bowie set limits for himself and maintained his professional ethics. Dont Be Afraid of the Unknown Bowie was always pushing the boundaries of his art. He was never repetitive or boring. Each album was borne of a daring new journey into unknown waters as he constantly sought to find a new voice and a new inspiration. He explored with musical technology and was known for being fearless and pioneering. His natural curiosity allowed him to follow many different artistic paths to the delight of his fans and music lovers. Bowies artistic vision was fueled by his constant striving for newness. He never allowed himself to settle into one style or voice and as a result, his lifes work is rich and diverse.