How do you organize your thoughts?

amelia88 Level 1

October 15, 2018, 6:26 am

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How do you organize your thoughts?

I’m still a pen and paper gal - I write lists, and have a large whiteboard over my desk space where I jot down ideas for articles when they come to me. Other people I know use online sources or even apps to keep check of their writing ideas.

How do you organize your thoughts and ideas for the content you produce?

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anyone01

anyone01

I found that when I conversed with individuals with various perspectives this helped me to sort out my thoughts. I focused on interfacing with individuals that were more astute than me. I shared everything, and wasn't frightened on the off chance that I looked dumb. I've humiliated myself bounty and from doing that I took in a hell of a considerable measure. I constantly kept a notebook and pen helpful when I was chipping away at thoughts myself or conversing with other individuals. I never go out without something to scribble thoughts down.

6 years ago

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jeffreyjose48

jeffreyjose48

I organize my thoughts by first thinking through. I would brainstorm all of my ideas. I also write my thoughts on paper.

6 years ago

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mitan143

mitan143

Yes, some people may tend to rely on applications for an easier process but I still prefer the manual which I use a notebook and a pen in organizing my thoughts. In short, when I'm doing my draft I'm doing it manually by hand writing. I usually do keeping notes and other important stuffs like that. It is very helpful to me in some ways because I'm not using my gadget or my laptop all the time. Also, I like using my cute notebooks so maybe I'm the same as you.

6 years ago

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ajahcuizon

ajahcuizon

I agree. Using gadgets to keep your notes might tempt you to scroll on some social media, losing your focus to your idea. It is much easier for me to use a pen and paper since I will just write and write. But with phone, there will be a tendency that I will type then erase then type again and so on. It is also inspiring for me to use cute notebooks for my ideas.

6 years ago

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mitan143

mitan143

You are definitely right with that too. Sometimes if we use our gadgets while we're keeping a note with our ideas, there will be a higher chance that we will be tempted to use our social media apps instead of finishing our primary goal which is to take a note of important ideas for our article. It'll eventually lead to "Ok, I'll do it later. Browse first". So yes, jotting down using a pen and a paper is better.

6 years ago

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superlicca

superlicca

You are right! When you use your phone or another device, you tend to do other things instead of focusing on writing. And I feel like my work on a paper is more secure since I can just keep them in a drawer. When I use devices, I think I might do something that would delete them or will have the possibility to forget to save my work.

6 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

When it comes to writing I have made several simple outlines that I just follow. This lessens my burden on thinking what to do and how to proceed in my writing. Whenever I have an idea, I would use the voice recorder in my smartphone to record all of my ideas and develop something to write from there using my outlines.

6 years ago

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jeffreyjose48

jeffreyjose48

I agree with you. When it comes to writing simple outlines needs to be followed. You can use voice recorder in the smartphone and record all of the ideas.

6 years ago

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jayjaydimson

jayjaydimson

I organize my thoughts in my mind. And once I'm done organizing it, I usually type it and then read it one more time to check if there's an error.

6 years ago

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mdayrit

mdayrit

I also enjoy jotting down things to keep myself organized. I use post its, table calendars, journal, and cork board to pin all the stuff in my head. I love listing things. Whenever I thought of a topic that I wanted to write or points that I can discuss in the article I am writing, I will write it down.

6 years ago

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amelia88

amelia88

I rely on my journal so much, and I'm constantly leaving post-it notes around with mini-lists of things to do. Glad to know that I'm not the only one who still relies on pen and paper sources to keep track of ideas!

6 years ago

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jpk0007

jpk0007

Yes I also use paper and pencil to write down whatever thoughts or ideas come into mind.I use a pencil because, I tend to repeat some of the ideas without realising them or, sometimes I modify whatever points I have in my mind .Its always good to have a pen or pencil and a small diary with you all the time.Many times ideas come to you when you are travelling, or when you don't have any access to your devices . At such times a pen and paper prove very useful to write down quickly whatever is going on in your mind. Going through everything that you have written at the end of the day will always be helpful to organize and modify whatever you are thinking.

6 years ago

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NerdIndeed

NerdIndeed

I always have my smartphone with me wherever I go. When an idea suddenly pops up in my head in the middle of nowhere, I place it as an entry in my idea's app (Memo) marked with a date on it. Then I review all of my data before the day ends.

6 years ago

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ajahcuizon

ajahcuizon

I am still in use of pen and paper ever since. But there are times that I use my phone in taking down notes if ever an idea suddenly come. Pen and paper are cheap and are easy to find. Also, it can be kept safely from other people. I like keeping my ideas from other as I was afraid that I will receive judgments or criticism even before I write my content. Keeping it on my phone could give access to some of friends, that's why I prefer it to be kept in a paper.

6 years ago

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Corzhens

Corzhens

Even when I am not writing, I always jot down what comes to my head that later on I will add that to my compilation of ideas. When I write an article, I will consult that compilation for ideas that are possible for inclusion to the article. Before I start writing, the ideas in the list will be sorted according to importance. Aside from the sorting, there's also the evaluation if it is indeed worthy to be included or not. Sometimes in the sorting process, some more ideas would be added in the resulting outline. Without the outline, writing will not be that easy because you have no direction to where your story is going.

6 years ago

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edencaga

edencaga

We're on the same boat as well. Whenever I want to write some article, I usually have my notebook and pencil or pen with me so that I will not forget the things I have in my mind. I usually go infont of the computer and research something that is kind of related to my topic. I also search for references that would make my writings or articles better.

6 years ago

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Barida

Barida

Searching for references have been the key way that I have been working things out with. The good thing of this kind of writing is that you are going to see much more ideas about the topic that you are writing on and this will enable you to expand your topic to as much as you desire it.

6 years ago

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superlicca

superlicca

I still use pen and paper even if google docs or MS office apps exist. I feel more comfortable using the old way to write. When I write, I make sure to list all the ideas that come to my mind. I try to read or watch some article to get more ideas. When I have all the necessary information for my article, I start to organize them in a way that readers will be attracted to read my content.

6 years ago

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Barida

Barida

My notepad on my mobile is the way that I have been going and the nice thing about it is that I can always refer back to it whenever that I want. Using the traditional board and pen to pin down ideas is also not that odd for me, but the good thing is for you to really keep pushing for it and achieving the goals you set out for yourself.

6 years ago

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Jeane

Jeane

I'm a little bit old school.

When researching stuff online, I'll have my pen and notebook by my side. And when I write my first draft of anything, it will be done on paper.

I'll edit and re-write and when I'm done I'll now use a word processor for the final editing. It takes a long time to do all that but it's something that I'm used to and don't intend to change any time soon because it works well enough for me.

6 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

I organize my thoughts by focusing on the things that should be done and doing it one by one. So it's organizing the things that needed to be done and giving it a number to identify which one needs to be completed first. Then planning how to complete each task in a time efficient manner.

6 years ago

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jayjaydimson

jayjaydimson

I made thoughts through my mind, and I write or type it and read it once again so if there's something wrong I can still change it.

6 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

Basically, I just create a To-do list on daily basis with the work I need to have done on everyday and make sure that I follow it down to the latter.

Sometimes, I do brainstorming in order to have all my thoughts gathered before starting off to pen my content down.

6 years ago

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DISTEFANO115

DISTEFANO115

I divide tasks, first I write what I am going to do and create steps on how to achieve it. Then I do step one if it takes at least 30 minutes and then I take a break before I do the next step. I believe that the average human brain can only perform at peak for only 45 minutes. To regain peak performance is to let it rest, this is how I organize my thoughts.

6 years ago

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amelia88

amelia88

I like the sounds of this approach - especially writing a to-do list and then writing steps on how to achieve those list items. Sometimes I just write out a list without actually contemplating the how part of how I intend to achieve them, so this sounds like something I should incorporate into my list writing too.

6 years ago

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TheArticulate

TheArticulate

Google Docs is one of the greatest developments ever. I organize thoughts, ideas, scripts, papers, whatever I need online, and it's really convenient because I can access my documents on the go.

In particular, this is helpful when I'm working on a project with my friends and fellow filmmakers, as we can work on the same document together simultaneously. It makes the workflow a bit easier for us.

6 years ago

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amelia88

amelia88

I have to say when it comes to technological organization away from my pen and paper, Google Docs is fantastic. I do love that it auto saves (losing documents is a thing of the past now!) and that it's free, as well. Sharing things as well like you said is super easy, and as a freelancer I adore that it's so simple.

6 years ago

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emiaj55

emiaj55

Like my old pal Steve Burns I use my "Handy Dandy....Notebook!". Lol. I find it really reliable to take a pocket notebook to organize my thoughts. When I'm satisfied with the amount of information I have in my notebook, I then type them to my PC, to have a digital file copy. Then I make my drafts. When I have my draft, that is when I run it by my colleagues or friends to get some opinions from them.

6 years ago

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jayjaydimson

jayjaydimson

I made my thoughts in my mind, and it helps me a lot to construct it because I can think of it, and once I'm done constructing it I try saying it slowly but surely.

6 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

I basically use my smartphone to record any writing ideas that pops into my brain. Since I always have my smartphone around, then why not use it right? In the past I used to have a post it in my bag or in my car so that when something good pops in my mind I would write it down. But nowadays it's easier to just record my voice using the built-in voice recorder in my smartphone.

6 years ago

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MomoStarr16

MomoStarr16

Just like i am that old school type that uses sratch papers and plain ballpen to write all the thoughts in my mind. Some times I wrote it in a whiteboard at my room. And every now and then i complie them so that whenever i am ready to write they will be easily remember by those notes.

6 years ago

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coolavender

coolavender

I normally prepare an outline on my Word Processor before staring a writing project. I don't use pen and paper for organizing my ideas. Most articles require submission on a deadline so I usually need to work fast. It will be a waste of time to manually write things down before typing.

For my own blog, I already have a list of topics to discuss but I also have a small notebook where I can write new ideas. It's quite useful when I'm out of the house and have no access to my laptop.

6 years ago

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Divine68

Divine68

I don't know about anyone else but my own ideas come in bits and pieces so I always have a jotter and a pen handy to scribble them down as they come. The next step is giving a pattern to the ideas through my thought process. I review this pattern a number of times to get the best.

6 years ago

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nrnlss

nrnlss

I organized my thoughts by writing them in a piece of paper, or typing them in my phone. Then I will write down an outline, and start to write the whole article

6 years ago

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mitan143

mitan143

That's nice. It seems like organizing your thoughts is not actually a big thing to you. Perhaps maybe you are a quick thinker. Good for you.

6 years ago

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cmoneyspinner

cmoneyspinner

Well to hear my husband tell it, my thoughts are never organized. LOL. But what I usually do for articles or blog posts is come up with a main thought. Spill out what I think about that main thought on paper. A rough draft with no concern for grammar, punctuation or spelling. Then I go through it again and organized those thoughts and keep on polishing the written words until I think I have a finished product. If it's a lengthy paper, I might prepare an outline first and then flesh out the details. I will go over several times before finalizing.
Sometimes I get my husband to look it over. A second pair of eyes can be very helpful.

6 years ago

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jeffreyjose48

jeffreyjose48

I organize my thoughts first by taking a pause. I grab a paper and pen and start to write what is in my mind. I read and reread what I was able to come up. If I sense that something needs revision or editing, well, I do; until I feel that my thoughts are understandable and communicable.

6 years ago

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thejoyrevolutio

thejoyrevolutio

I usually list my ideas. Whether on paper or on my computer I compile a list of ideas that I wanted to put on my writing. Once I started writing I usually go back to my list to see if I miss something. It really helps me to making list because I ofter forget the things that I wanted to right. I also list ideas I wanted to write about in the future.

6 years ago

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beerthooyah

beerthooyah

Were pretty much the same. I also like writing in pen and paper. I just simply enjoy writing through ink its just my first choice. My mind tends to work faster thru this method. In terms of organizing thoughts my mind works well in the morning after I have exercise and before breakfast. Thats where I would plan my day and how will it be spent.

6 years ago

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EfficientNinja

EfficientNinja

My method for organizing my thoughts is kind of similar to yours. I also write my ideas on a list so I won't forget them. I put them in a Notes app on both my laptop and mobile device. I go through them when I am out of ideas or to remind myself of the things or topics that I am going to write about.

6 years ago

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amelia88

amelia88

So happy to see so many of you responding that you’re still fans of good old pen and paper! Makes me happy to know that I’m definitely not the only old-school organizer out there!!

6 years ago

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Youngshark

Youngshark

It depends, Do I have access to a book and a pen? If yes then that is what I will use to make out the points that I need to use for making out my piece. It is only on rare occasions that I will settle down to write without such tools. AT times I also prefer to have a phone when I am collecting idea and then I record each which will later be used as references.

6 years ago

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NesMarcos

NesMarcos

Organizing my thoughts when writing an article is such a hard thing to do for me because it takes a lot of time. Meanwhile, writing all the thoughts and ideas in my mind on a paper helps a lot. After all the ideas were written, I just arrange which comes first and which comes last. If there are things to rephrase then I just rephrase. In speaking part, I just speak everything in my mind, but of course with caution. I always try to be mindful of what other people would feel if I say negatively. So, organizing my thoughts in a positive way is indeed harder.

6 years ago

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Youngshark

Youngshark

A summary of what you intend to write is always important to keep you up to speed along the way. You will rarely stray when you have a clear outline of what you intend to write and the key points to help you do it effectively. The points will also assist in shortening all the long paragraphs into information that can be quickly checked.

6 years ago

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jayjaydimson

jayjaydimson

I used to organized my thoughts in my mind and construct it one by one and write it on a notepad or on a paper.

6 years ago

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theresajane

theresajane

How I organize my thoughts, especially in writing, is based on what I learned from school. First, I have to gather my ideas and sometimes, I enumerate them in my mind. Second, when I already have my points, I construct the introduction, body, then, conclusion. As long as I have the important details in my mind, I can at least be prepared in writing.

6 years ago

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iambeth

iambeth

I like to itemize my thoughts in paper first when I need to write. For a certain topic, I first make a list of underlying ideas that are relevant to the subject matter and then expound on those ideas. Then I organize those with the same theme into paragraphs. I rearrange them until I'm happy with the end product.

6 years ago

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cks003

cks003

Organising thoughts admittedly is not an easy task especially one is doing it for public consumption. One has to ensure that the ideas, thoughts are organised in a easy to understand flow. One has to always assume that readers do not know anything about the topic, and it is the responsibility of the writer to make it as clear as possible. The structure has to follow the flow, introduce the topic, why it is important to write or why readers need to read your article?, the target audience, and what they can learn from your article.

6 years ago

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