How to Make an Outline for Magazine Article
Putting your thoughts down on paper in logical sequence will help you organize and sell your writing.Outlining makes your thoughts flow from your head to the paper (or computer). You don't need a fancy computer program, or, for that matter, a computer to prepare an outline.
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Instructions
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Choosing a Topic
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The most difficult part of writing is deciding on a topic to write about. It is always best to write about what you know, so take a look at the magazines that interest you and start from there. You might notice that you have a stack of bridal magazines--that's a good place to start. Look through them for ideas and write them down.
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Let's say that you've chosen to write about your impending marriage. Take a notebook and on a fresh sheet of paper, write down as many of the details of planning for your marriage. Are you going to write about the wedding or about the actual idea of marriage? Again, narrow the topic and jot down your thoughts. Let's say you are going to write about planning your wedding. Your article would probably include words or phrases like choosing the dress, setting the date, renting the tuxes, who is going to be in the wedding party? Church, reception, honeymoon, flowers, food, music and guest list are probably on your list. Now you have the choice of narrowing the topic further or making the outline very general and including everything that goes into planning a wedding.
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Let's say that you have decided to narrow it down to choosing flowers for your wedding.On a new sheet of paper, write down all of the words or phrases that come to mind when choosing flowers for your wedding. What are the most important things to think about flowers as a bride? Color? Scent? Wild? Classic? Shape? Textures? Real or silk? Do-it-yourself or pay for a florist. What about using a floral designer? Budget. Will the wedding flowers be integrated with the arrangements on the tables at the reception? Write down everything you can think of relating to the subject without concerning yourself about putting the words in any particular order.
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By now, you will see that many of your words/phrases have similar characteristics. On a fresh piece of paper, place the common words together and give them a common theme, such as Expensive, Wild flowers, Seasonal, or Flowers on the Cheap. Try to catagorize so that all the words fit one of the categories.Now you have the basis of a rough outline.
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Look at your theme titles; which would be the most important to a bride-to-be in floral decisions? Put your groups in order from most important to least important.On a new piece of paper, write what might be the title in the top middle of the page.Here's an example: A Bride's Guide to Flowers on the Cheap1. Wild flowers A. What is in season in June? a. June roses b. daisies c. sweet william d. lupine e. wild iris B. Where could I find these flowers? a. behind Grammy's house b. in front of the school C. How close to the wedding should I pick them to have them fresh for the wedding and reception? D. How could I make them look their best? a. colored ribbons to match wedding colors? b. vases picked up a yard sales or borrowed for tables for receptionBy answering the questions I am writing an article that pulls all of my thoughts together in a cogesive manner. Writing a sentence on each of the wildflowers mentioned gives interest to the article; a good introduction, a few tweaks and some editing and I have the basis of an article to sell!
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Tips & Warnings
Don't expect this exercise to take 10 minutes developing an outline. Take the time to do some research on your topic--learn more than you need to know and writing the outline and the article will turn out to be easier than you thought.
