Writers, organize or else! A lesson from Barry Tarshis

Does your writing suffer from this problem?

“…if your thoughts aren’t well organized, it doesn’t matter how large or varied your vocabulary is, how vivid an imagination you have, or how lyrically you compose a sentence; your writing, more often than not, will puzzle your readers.” –Barry Tarshis, How to Write Like a Pro, p. 63

Tarshis offers many ideas about how to write well.

You can whip your thoughts into shape with a five-step process.

1. Brainstorm ideas
2. Organize your thoughts before writing
3. Write a first draft
4. Edit–Consider hiring an editor if you struggle with this phase.
5. Rewrite