Using topic-based writing to pull together a writing project
How often do you find that you have an idea for a non-fiction writing project, but are only able to chip away at it bit by bit? If you’re anything like me, then it’s too often.
You might find that with projects like that, you write in bits and pieces — a few sentences or paragraphs here and there — and never get anything finished. You have chunks of writing, but can’t really pull them together.
But if you look to the world of technical communication, you’ll find a solution to this problem. One of the hottest trends in that wacky world is topic-based writing. And it can help you pull together all those chunks of content that you’ve been pecking out into something tangible.
Topic-based writing?
With topic-based writing, a piece of documentation is broken down into its component parts. Each of those components is called a topic. A topic can be a lump of overview information, a procedure, and the like. It can be a single sentence, one or more paragraphs, or longer.
Each topic stands on its own. It’s not related to, or reliant upon, any of the topics that come before or after it. You can stitch topics together in a number of very interesting and unique ways.
As far as documentation goes, you can have a store of topics. Then, you can combine them to create various types of manuals.
Applying this to other writing
That’s all well and good for technical writing. But how can you apply this concept to other forms of non-fiction writing? Actually, that’s fairly easy.
Take all of those bits and pieces that you’ve been writing — whether they’re in text files, word processor documents, or in a paper notebook. Treat those bits and pieces as topics. Then combine them into one large document. Of course, you’ll want to put them into a logical order …
Chances are, you’ll have at least an article’s worth of content. The problem you’ll encounter is that after you’ve stitched all of those topics together, the final product will seem very disjointed. That’s one weakness of topic-based writing. However, that’s a problem that’s easy to get around. Just add segues and linking material wherever it’s needed.
Taking this a step or two further
By tackling one or more writing projects in this way, you’re opening the door to creating a library of topics. You can use what’s in that library to quickly assemble articles, or target existing ideas (with a few changes) to multiple markets.
The biggest problem you’ll face is that you’ll have a hard time keeping track of all of your topics once your library begins to grow.
Thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment.
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