How To Outline An Article
With Planning, You Can Make a Great Map and Simplify Writing Process
Dec 18, 2007
Outlining each article you are planning to write is an important step in the writing process. Without a good outline, you will be like a driver without a good map. Although you both may get to your destinations, you will have suffered frustrations and time-consuming detours that might have been avoided with proper planning. An outline is an indispensable planning tool for a writer.
The Process of Outlining
The first step in creating an article outline is to ask yourself some questions about the piece you are planning to write.
- What is it? A profile of a prominent business person? A review of the hottest new novel? A feature about your home town?
- Why do you want to write it? To make the public aware of the philanthropy of this business person? To suggest a great holiday read? To draw more visitors to your town?
- Who will read it? Readers of the local daily newspaper? Readers of an alternative weekly? Readers of a regional travel magazine?
- When will it be read? Does it have a seasonal angle or could it be published at any time of the year?
- Where will it be read? At work? At home? While traveling?
Your answers to these questions will help to clarify the important elements of an article: the type of piece, its purpose, the readership, its timeliness, and the environment in which it will be read.
An Outline Example
Let’s say that you have answered the above questions in the following way: what - a feature about your home town; why - to bring more visitors to the area; who – audience will be readers of a regional travel magazine; when – a fall angle; where – article will probably be read at home, since the magazine is by subscription only. Here is a possible (though abbreviated) point form outline:
Title of Article: Create a Working Title (read more in Choosing Winning Article Titles)
Introduction – home town name, where it’s located, a general statement of why visiting in the fall would be great
First Point of Article - discuss the area’s hiking trails, how they wind through beautiful fall landscape, the fact that the trails are short and there are lots of places to stop for lunch or a snack
Second Point of Article – details of fall festivals in town; perhaps highlight a couple in a sidebar (read more in How To Write Great Sidebars)
Third Point of Article – accommodation is varied and the rates are lower in the off-season; use a sidebar to highlight a particularly interesting place to stay
Fourth Point of Article – write about the great places to eat, and the food they offer
Wrap Up Article – wrap up the main points of the article, and reiterate why visitors should visit your home town in the fall
Also, make point form outlines for any sidebars you wish to include with the article.
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