Mastering the 4 Stages of Online Writing
Written on
Chapter 1: The Journey of an Online Writer
Navigating the world of online writing can be daunting. However, by utilizing four progressive levels, you can simplify the process, starting from the most manageable tasks and gradually tackling more complex challenges.
As an author on the Medium platform, I've explored numerous strategies and techniques for writing. With over 300 published articles ranging from brief 100-word pieces to extensive 4000-word essays, my journey has been rich and varied. Some articles took me just five minutes to complete, while others demanded three hours of my time.
Throughout my writing experience, there have been periods where I stepped back for months. Yet, I learned a vital lesson about success in writing: two key principles stand out: Avoid seeking immediate results, and prioritize consistency in your writing routine.
To maintain this consistency, it's crucial to establish a writing schedule that suits you—whether that’s daily or a few times a week. Find a rhythm that you can stick to without excuses.
Where do you find inspiration for your writing?
To cultivate ideas, immerse yourself in reading. My personal reading list features over 60 articles, with more added daily. This habit broadens my perspective and fuels my creativity, providing a wealth of topics to explore in my writing.
One effective strategy for maintaining a consistent writing flow is to brainstorm multiple titles ahead of time. I often set a timer for 15 minutes to generate ideas that intrigue me. This technique typically results in around 20 potential topics. Once I have a title, subtitle, and thumbnail ready, I can easily return to the draft and focus on writing the content, saving valuable time.
To ensure a steady writing process, I've identified four writing levels that have proven beneficial for me.
Section 1.1: Level #1 — Title and Subtitle Generation
Generating ideas is essential for consistent writing. On days when creativity feels elusive, I can still produce viable titles, even if I'm not feeling my best.
The beauty of this practice lies in the time it saves—you can spend just 20-30 minutes generating a list of titles that can later serve as the foundation for articles. When you're in a creative mindset, you can quickly develop multiple titles and subtitles, allowing for a seamless writing experience.
This method energizes me. As I brainstorm, I often come up with titles that push the boundaries of my usual thought process. This creative exploration can lead to both amusing and profound ideas, providing a rich pool of content to share.
Don't take the brainstorming process too seriously; aim to generate as many ideas as possible. This playful approach can unlock your creativity and yield impressive results.
With a collection of titles at your disposal, you can easily select one and start writing.
Subsection 1.1.1: Level #2 — Crafting Short Articles (300 Words or Less)
Once you've generated a variety of ideas, it's time to write. Start by dedicating 10-20 minutes to creating a concise article.
With a title, subtitle, and thumbnail already in hand, your next step is to develop an engaging body of text. Utilize your existing ideas and feel free to research additional information to enhance your content.
The primary goal at this stage is to jot down your thoughts without overthinking. This streamlined approach allows you to write regularly, even with time constraints. If you have a title ready, you can produce an article in about 15 minutes—just organize your thoughts and refine any grammatical errors before publishing.
Section 1.2: Level #3 — Writing Medium-Length Articles (1000 Words or Less)
When you feel confident in generating ideas and want to expand your writing, it's time to tackle longer articles. Here, you can spend 20-30 minutes crafting a more substantial piece.
Follow the same process as in the previous stage, but allocate more time to develop your ideas. At this point, you may need to conduct additional research online. Utilize resources like Google and YouTube to find quotes or insights to incorporate into your work.
This is the perfect time to write medium-length articles when you have the motivation and time to elaborate beyond 300 words.
Chapter 2: Level #4 — Composing Long Articles (1000 Words or More)
The final stage of my writing evolution involves crafting lengthy articles. Occasionally, I produce pieces that range from 2000 to 3000 words. This is an ideal opportunity to delve deeply into a subject and share comprehensive insights.
Allocate sufficient time and energy for this task. Remember, you already have a title from the first stage, so now it's about creating a compelling narrative. Spend an hour articulating your thoughts and sharing valuable information with your readers.
People appreciate solutions to their challenges, so strive to make your stories engaging. Leverage the internet for additional knowledge and insights to enrich your articles.
I often read books and in-depth articles to enhance my writing skills. Platforms like SubStack are particularly valuable, as they feature numerous accomplished authors who share their expertise.
If you feel ready, begin to articulate your thoughts in longer formats, creating content that offers real value to your audience.
Remember, lengthy articles should be meaningful. Sometimes, a brief article is more effective. Write extensively only when necessary—ensure you convey significant ideas without unnecessary elaboration.
Respect your readers’ time by providing them with valuable content. This approach will cultivate your reputation as a skilled writer. Take your time in the writing process—sometimes, it's better to say less than to overwhelm your audience with unnecessary details!
If you found this guide helpful, check out the videos below for further insights into writing effectively.
Assessing English Writing Online - YouTube
This video provides an overview of effective writing assessment strategies, helping you improve your writing quality and clarity.
Writing Program Learning Outcomes Online - YouTube
This video discusses how to articulate learning outcomes for writing programs, enhancing your understanding of educational writing objectives.