Pore as a verb means to read studiously or attentively. “He pored over his grammar book.”

Pour means to flow or cause to flow, or to rain hard. “He poured maple syrup over his grammar book and ate it.”

(Definitions from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)

Hum is a verb meaning “to utter a sound like that of the speech sound \m\ prolonged” or “to sing with closed lips.” Hum can also be a noun referring to such a sound or such singing.

He hummed a merry tune.

Hmm (or hm) is an interjection that usually expresses “thoughtful absorption, doubt, or perplexity.”

“Hmm … I’ll have to think about that,” he said.

And putting it all together:

“Hmm … I’ll have to think about that,” he said. Then he hummed a merry tune.

(Definitions from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Dictionary.com.)

Do you need an outline? To help you decide, think about these two questions: What kind of organizer are you? and How complicated is your writing project?

Let’s think about organization first. Do you fit into one of these categories?

1. Meticulous organizer—You organize everything, all the time. Your desk is tidy and you always know where everything is. You like to stick little labels on things.
2. Creative organizer—You organize information easily and “on the fly.” Your desk is messy, but you can always find everything. Labels annoy you.
3. Totally unorganized—You dislike organization generally. Your desk is cluttered with expired coupons and last year’s mail. You suspect labels might help you, but you don’t know where to put them.

Now, how does any of that relate to writing and outlining? Well, the meticulous organizer will feel most comfortable outlining everything they write, from dissertations to shopping lists. If you’re meticulous, you probably already work from some sort of outline.

Creative organizers will use an outline only when necessary, and even then the outline is likely to exist only in the mind, or possibly scrawled in green ink on the palm of the hand. If you’re creative, you consider any outline a temporary map to get you where you need to go.

Unorganized people generally dislike making outlines, and their writing will often suffer for it. If you’re unorganized, consider forcing yourself to outline your thoughts before you write; your readers will thank you.

Our second question was How complicated is your writing project? If you’re writing a short article or story, you may not need an outline. For a novel with a complex plot, a longer article or report, or a long research paper, you’d better plan on creating an outline. Do you need to outline every single little thing? No (unless you are unusually meticulous), but make sure you include your major points and enough supporting information to jar your memory or lead you to the proper source or place in your notes.

So, to determine whether or not you should take the time to create an outline, you must first know both yourself and your work (always good advice). Next month we’ll look at some different ways to create your outline.

Write on!

Seam is a noun meaning “the line or junction of two edges, esp. of edges of fabric sewn together” or “a layer of mineral matter.” Seam can also be a verb meaning “to join by or as if by sewing.”

Rusty tore the seam in his pants while he was digging out a seam of coal. He cursed because he didn’t have a needle and thread to seam the edges of the tear.

Seem is a verb meaning “to appear to the observation or understanding” or “to give the impression of being: Appear.”

Suddenly Rusty’s backside seemed awfully cold.

And putting it all together:

Rusty was working on a seam of coal when he realized his backside seemed awfully cold. Upon further investigation, he discovered he had torn the seam in his pants.

Bazaar is a noun meaning “a group of small shops: MARKETPLACE” or “a fair for the sale of articles usu. for charity.”

He went to the town’s Christmas bazaar to buy a gift for his wife.

Bizarre is an adjective meaning “odd, eccentric, fantastic.”

The gift he chose was quite bizarre; his wife wasn’t sure if she should hang it on the wall or feed it to the cat.

And putting it all together:

His wife was not entirely pleased with the bizarre gift he’d bought for her at the town’s Christmas bazaar.

(Definitions from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)

To illustrate precisely to what I am referring, I shall now adopt the voice in which I write at such a time as this, so that I may bestow upon you, humble readers, the great gift of insight and wisdom which I, through years of anonymous and thankless toil, have earned, and from which you, who may also be toiling anonymously and thanklessly, will undoubtedly gain.

Be honest now, would you want to read a whole article written in that voice? I wouldn’t, but as an editor, I often do. I have seen many, many writers sacrifice clarity in an effort to impress their readers, to sound intelligent, to write “like a writer.” The problem is, truly skilled writers don’t write like that.

Writing is communication. You can do whatever you want in your bedside journal, but if you are writing because you want to be read, you must be clear. Whether you are writing a thriller or a thesis, you must be clear. If your sentences are so convoluted your readers are constantly scratching their heads and saying “Wha-?” you have not done your job as a writer.

How can you improve the clarity of your writing?

1. Try to avoid long, complex sentences. I’ve read some seventy-word sentences that made my head spin. A long sentence every once in a while is fine, but make sure every word in that sentence is doing something.
2. Avoid using “fancy” words as window dressing. This goes along with #1. If the word isn’t serving some purpose, why is it in your sentence? If readers are unlikely to understand the meaning of the word, why is it in your sentence?
3. Always keep your audience in mind. Are you writing for fifth graders or your dissertation advisor? Your readers will have different expectations and capabilities depending on their age and level of education. Be careful that you don’t overwhelm them or talk down to them.
4. Read your work out loud. Does your tongue trip repeatedly? If so, you probably have some rewriting ahead of you.
5. Ask someone else to read your work. This can be tough. You need to find someone who will offer honest, constructive criticism. Yes, close relatives and friends are convenient, but many of them will only nod their heads and say, “That’s fine, dear.” This is nice, but not terribly helpful. Try an editor or a fellow writer. If you don’t know any local writers, try joining an online writing group.
6. Finally, write to communicate, not to impress. The easiest and surest way to impress readers with your message and style is to write graceful, easily understood prose.

Write on!