Five Questions for Reviewing Your Train of Thought
By Katy Kauffman
With time, I have become a better train conductor. Instead
of jumping the rails to explore lush, green forests or majestic mountain peaks,
I am better able to keep my train of thought on its intended course. Have you
ever thought of yourself—a writer—as a train conductor?
Words are our cars, and chapters are our trains. We may not
wear the nostalgic conductor’s hat, but our thinking caps fit snugly in place.
That may be the problem. In the broad expanse of ideas and sentences and
experiences, we have to chart our course. What points do we need to make? Which
ones do we need to leave out? Our necessary writer’s tool (dare I say the
word?)—an outline—acts as our track. The track grows as we add illustrations,
insights, or examples to make our point. The danger comes when our exuberance
for sharing what we know runs off track and into the thicket.
Oh, it may not look like a thicket to us. But our readers
will find themselves traveling through briars and underbrush if we decide to
jump the track. They may appreciate the extra leg of the journey, tucked safely
inside our train. But they will start to wonder why their conductor added a few
stops before the destination. We never want to confuse or disappoint our
readers. We want them to travel with us again through worlds of truth or
imagination.
So how do we ensure that they will buy our train ticket and
ride with us again? By delivering what we’ve promised. By arriving at our
destination at the end of the book and making every stop until we get there as
enjoyable, informative, and encouraging as possible.
Here are five questions to ask yourself about every chapter,
paragraph, and sentence in your book. These questions also work for shorter
rides, such as articles and blog posts. Once you have poured out your heart on
paper, put on your conductor’s hat and examine closely your train of thought.
Streamline your writing by evaluating the “track.”
- Does
my train of thought travel from Point A (the beginning of my chapter or
article) to Point B (the end of it) in a straight line, or have I meandered off
course?
- Have I included stories, statistics, or quotes that illustrate my point, or are some not as relevant as others?
- Can I cut out any paragraphs, sentences, or single words, and my message is still clear?
- Have I inserted anything that’s precious to me but unnecessary to my overall point?
- Do I arrive at my destination “on time,” or do I have any delays and detours?
Our goal as writers is to arrive at our destination—the end
of our work—leaving our readers feeling as if they have had an adventure worth
remembering and taking to heart. Guide them all the way through your message of
truth by using the most effective route—don’t let your train of thought jump
the track.
What do you do to help yourself stay on track in your
writing? Share your tips and ideas with us in the comments below.
(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net/Phil_Bird/bugnin.)
TWEETABLE
Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh
Bible Study Magazine, and
a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. Her first compilation, Breaking
the Chains: Strategies for Overcoming Spiritual Bondage, won a 2018 Selah
finalist award. Her next compilation, Heart
Renovation: A Construction Guide to Godly Character, was a 2019 Selah
finalist and Director’s Choice finalist. Katy’s writing can be found at
CBN.com, thoughts-about-God.com, PursueMagazine.net, two blogs on writing, in
online magazines, and on devotional blogs. She loves spending time with family
and friends, making jewelry, and hunting for the best donuts. Connect with her
at her blog, The Scrapbooked Bible Study, and on Facebook and Twitter.
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