Do people still outline anymore? As a writer, I admit to only outlining my writing from time to time. Then it recently dawned on me that a “crystalizer” of information I was not, and thus the way I was processing information and random thoughts prior to hitting the keystrokes on my PC was probably not making my job any easier.

That’s where the power of the outline still comes in handy. I think outlines can help people write better, faster. I think it saves time and more people will want to read what you write.

Some people call it writers block, but there’s a new kind of “cloudiness” happening here. Instead of not knowing what to write about, it’s knowing what NOT to write because there’s too much information to filter through on any given subject to create a clear message. When your job requires succinct messaging to a target audience about a complicated topic suddenly the “cloud” in your head can pose a real problem. Add in a tight deadline and it can really paralyze your efforts to synthesize information.

Jeremy Porter from Journalistics states it well. “Would you build a house without blueprints? No, probably not. That would be a recipe for disaster. The same could be said for writing without an outline. An outline gives your writing structure and helps you organize your thoughts from start to finish to ensure you get your point across or tell a good story.”  Well said, Mr. Porter.

For many writers, the outline is natural step in their process. But for many others in the business world, I’m guessing it’s not so common.

Here are some tips from Jeremy that I’ve found very helpful.

• Outlines help you think through your topic – you might have a subject in mind, but you need to hone in on the topics you’d like to cover – by creating an outline, you can figure out how you’d like the piece to play out. You can also figure out which areas you might need to research information, get visuals or interview an expert for. Of course, you can figure out what information to omit as well.

• Outlining can help you eliminate writer’s block- if you’re having a hard time getting your writing kicked off, an outline can help you break down your subject into manageable chunks. Outlining can help you get over the hump and get your thoughts on paper (or your screen).

• Outlines save you time – it might seem counter intuitive, but taking time to outline your writing first could save time. If you just write from start to finish, there’s a good chance you’ll have to do some significant editing or revision – which takes a lot of time. From experience, if you start with a good flow and organization of information, the editing process will go much faster.

• Outlines can make you a more effective communicator – when I just write about a topic without planning my writing first, I find I don’t always communicate everything I had hoped to. I’ve also completely missed my point all together before. By creating an outline first, it’s easier to decide whether or not you’re clearly communicating your point. If your writing is in more of a story format, an outline can help you balance all the pieces – introduction, rising action, supporting facts, climax and conclusion – rather than figuring it out as you go along.

• Outlines can help you plan future writing – I’ll often create drafts of posts I’m going to write someday – in outline form – and add to the outline as I come across new information or think through the details more. Having a reservoir of writing ideas – in a working outline format – can help you write more content on a regular basis.

Resources for Creating Outlines

I would list off my tips for creating outlines, but there are so many good resources out there already, I’m going to refer you to those:

• Four Main Components for Effective Outlines – Purdue Online Writing Lab
• How to Outline a Newspaper Article - eHow
• Follow Your MAP to Greater Writing Productivity – Copyblogger
• How to Write an Outline – wikiHow

If it’s been years since you’ve done an outline to map out your thinking, I recommend it. It’s definitely made a comeback in my writing process.

Do outlines help you organize your thoughts better before writing? Tell us about some of your tips and advice.