by Stephanie Edwards
With the changing season, you may be interested in starting your first writing venture but do not know where to start. Or perhaps you are a skilled writer who has yet to find inspiration to produce a new piece.
The thought of creating fresh content can be overwhelming. Your mind may draw a blank or have too many floating thoughts – so many that you are unsure how to organize them into a neat, presentable package.
If this sounds familiar, here are five motivational tips to start writing.
1. Don’t procrastinate
Just start writing! Put pen to paper – or keyboard to monitor – and write. You will find that new and exciting ideas come to mind once you start. You may complete a two- or three-page draft in no time just by writing out all your subject-related thoughts. A draft is just that, a draft. It does not have to be perfect at this stage. If you choose to do so, you can refine it once it is complete. It is all a part of the process.
2. Use point-form notes
In the draft phase, you can use point-form notes to list your ideas. This method will help you remember key points you want to address. To build your content, you can extract the main points and elaborate on them. You can do this by providing evidence to support your ideas. The expansion of your ideas will leave you with entire paragraphs.
3. Relax
Sometimes, we are so inspired by our thoughts and ideas that we write and do research, believing we have to do it all in one day – or until we have a final copy in one sitting. Instead, it may be helpful to pause and return to writing when you are refreshed. Taking a timeout for a day or even a week may lead to additional ideas that you can add to your work. When you’ve taken a rest, you will be better attuned to catch inconsistencies and clean up your content, leading to more fluid and coherent writing.
4. Next steps
Once you’ve reached the point where you have written to satisfaction, pause and then write some more. You may be questioning the next steps you want to take. It is important to note that not everything you write has to be shared. You may keep some of this written work for yourself, either for self-expression or for personal development. But if your goal is to publish and share it, this next tip is for you.
5. Review your work
Once you have completed your final draft, review it. This is the time to read, re-read, tweak, and edit. You may need to add or remove content as you read over your work. Once you have completed a final review, having a second pair of eyes look it over is recommended. Another reader can give their perspective on your article, help to clarify content that may be misunderstood, or simply provide words of encouragement. You can always ask a friend, also known as a beta reader. A beta reader can aid in the review stage. However, to get a full scope of what is required to polish your piece and ensure a masterfully finished product, it is best to enlist the services of a professional editor. They will provide the finishing touches to your content.
Have you passed the writing stage and are now searching for a professional editor?
Visit editors.ca and search through the Editors Canada Online Directory of Editors (ODE). Here, you can find an editor for hire who matches your writing style, niche, or topic.
Conclusion
So, now that you have received some motivational tips, what are you waiting for? Start writing! Your words are waiting to be unleashed.
If you are ready to start writing and share it with the world, why not write a volunteer article for the Editors Toronto BoldFace blog?
Please reach out to [email protected] to pitch your idea or obtain information on how to get involved.
Stephanie Edwards is currently the community liaison on the Editors Toronto executive team. She loves taking on various creative projects and has contributed a few blogs on BoldFace. She enjoys fun in the sun and hanging out with her loved ones.
This article was copy edited by Shannon Fleming Eboe-Osuji, a freelance editor living in Toronto.
BoldFace 
Inspiring.
Thank you.
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