All writers would love to be able to type out full articles or stories without even having to think about it. But stream of consciousness writing doesn’t make for great content. Good writing has to be researched and structured to make it effective and the only way to do that is by taking thorough notes – it’s a technique used by all expert writers. For example, if you’re reviewing a product, you want to make sure you jot down any observations or thoughts you have while testing it out. Alternatively, when you’re planning your article, you need to know exactly what information to include and how to structure it.
The Art of Note-Taking
There are many different ways of taking notes, and each writer has their favorite method, but it’s well worth incorporating different techniques into your arsenal. What kind of notes you take also depends on the circumstances. For example, if you’re attending a webinar or a press conference, you have to watch, listen, and write all at the same time. In this case, it’s better to make outlining notes or bullet points – no doubt you remember this kind of note-taking from when you were a student. Meanwhile, if you’re at the planning stage, then mind mapping is a great way to see a visual representation of your ideas and let new thoughts flow.
You also have the choice of writing your notes down or storing them digitally. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages and as a content writer, it’s important to know which method is best.
Paper Notes
Before smartphones or computers, using paper was the only way to take notes. For a writer, it meant messy desks full of notebooks, loose papers, and sticky notes. But for many people, the old-fashioned way is still the best. Certainly, there’s something nice about having physical notes or a notebook that you can take with you everywhere you go – just don’t forget it!
When it comes to learning new things, using paper notes is still the way to go. That’s because when we’re typing, we tend to transcribe instead of writing critically, which means our brains aren’t processing the information as much. So, if you’re learning a new subject that you need to write about, writing notes on paper has its advantages.
Digital Notes
There’s no need to worry about losing handwritten notes or forgetting to put your notebook in your bag if you type everything digitally instead. Of course, there are different ways of doing it – you could use any word processor or text editor that comes with your device or instead try a dedicated note-taking app.
Note-Taking Apps
As writers, we use various apps to help us be as productive as possible and note-taking apps have a lot of unique features that make them a great tool to have. For example, these apps often sync across your devices, allowing you to work from anywhere. Another particularly useful feature is how easy it is to go through old notes, as apps come with search bars and tags to keep everything in order – no more time spent rummaging through a stack of old notes. Many note-taking apps also give you the ability to share notes with others, making it easy to collaborate with your fellow writers.
Type Notes in Your Document
Note-taking apps provide a lot of extra features and are really convenient. But there’s still something to be said for keeping all your notes in one place. That’s especially true when it’s time to write your article. It’s much easier to just scroll down a page than it is to swap between apps or dig out your notebook. Microsoft Word is really helpful in this respect, as the software gives you plenty of extra features that help you improve your writing skills. For example, you can add your notes as comments saved in the margin, which will let you put all your notes in a handy place and help your article stay clutter-free. You can even install a sticky notes add-in to Word to replicate the feel of having physical notes while enjoying all the benefits of digital notes.
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