Because of this, you have to apply yourself just as much when creating an outline as you do when writing the draft.  You’re not just collecting the main points of discussion and laying them out, after all.  Instead, you’re also testing how they flow in sequence.

What should you aim for in your organization?  The same things you aim for when writing an effective and informative paper.   You want a structure where the different points are logically arranged, such that each one’s introduction doesn’t feel out of place.  You want one that strengthens the main argument by constant progress, rather than diluting or stalling it.  You want a structure that will make sense to the reader, so that they can follow the continuity of your discussion without ever being lost.

Make sure your main thesis dictates how the outline is arranged.  Your paper should be organized in order to best serve the thesis.  From the outline, you can also begin eliminating and adding various elements, depending on how well they flow with the rest of the paper.

Here are some of the proven ways to open personal essays effectively:

1. Describe a person or setting.  Doing this focuses the reader’s attention on a specific object quickly, allowing you to use that same attention for introducing the rest of your essay.
2. Describe a scene that involves the senses.  Be careful with this, though, as doing so risks slowing down the beginning of the essay considerably.  The tradeoff, however, is that it hooks the reader with a potentially involving description that sets the stage vividly.
3. Ask a question.   Specifically, one that’s piercing enough to get the attention of someone interested in the subject of your essay.
4. Throw in a remarkable but fitting quotation.  If you’re going to use a quotation to open, it has to be both special (as in, it’s wittier or more sensational than anything you can come up with yourself) and appropriate to the subject (lest confuse the reader).
5. A controversial statement.  An always reliable strategy, people tend to read as soon as their intrigue is piqued.
6. A straightforward statement that will either be supported or disputed in the essay.    It’s rarely the best option.  But if you’re stuck at finding a better opening, it will do.

Examples of round-up articles include “10 Inspirational Anecdotes From The Cast of Glee” (you can source stories from their individual interviews), “Five Songwriting Tips From Successful Rappers” or “10 Gorgeous Website Designs.”     As you can guess, you’ll have to do some research to come up with the various materials to include, but you won’t have to do plenty of original writing.

The important thing when writing a round-up piece is to focus on one theme.  Since you’re drawing from different sources, it’s easy to lose track of what you’re writing about.   Make sure all the different content you pick up for inclusion work as a singular feature, pushing a single theme that’s identifiable to the reader.

There are endless variations you can apply for round-up articles.   Instead of just “10 Inspirational Anecdotes From The Cast of Glee,” you can whip up the “5 Best Inspirational Anecdotes…” or the “5 Worst…”  You can collect “10 Inspirational Anecdotes From Glee Cast Members For  Aspiring Musicians” or  find “10 Inspirational Anecdotes From Glee Cast Members For High School Students.”

Used right, transitions can address similarities and contrast, suggest a meaningful order to your points, demonstrate cause and effect, and remind readers of previous arguments that relate to current ones.   Basically, it helps tie things together, so that your writing feels more focused and cohesive.

Many novice writers who heed the advice to use transitions can use them unnecessarily.  That is, they add transitions where one isn’t warranted.  Instead of ending up with prose that flows better, they end up with one stunted by hollow transitions that do nothing but add fodder.

When is a transition hollow?  The most common is when the relationship between two ideas is obvious that adding a transition is merely redundant.  Give your reader some credit — if a relationship is established naturally, there’s no need to point it out.  The even worse variety is when the writer uses transitions to force a relationship when there is none.  Often, this is done to finesse an argument’s flaws.  While you could trick readers who aren’t paying attention, this shoddy technique will just end up alienating those who are actually trying to understand your points.

Personal essays are a platform for your own thoughts and opinions.  While it can be about any subject, it’s your personal perspective on that subject that is central to what’s going to make the essay work.

You can, in fact, think of personal essays like a written form of reality TV.   An episode of a reality show can be made around a new action movie, a local ballgame or a stadium concert, but everything will be filtered in relation to the personalities the show is actually about.

Same goes with personal essays.  You can be writing about a political figure, a piece of abstract art or a new pickup truck, but the draw of the piece remains your particular take on the matter.

While personal essays are among the few avenues where personal opinion is most welcome, there are still some things you’ll need to adhere to if it’s going to work.

1. Your facts must be accurate.  Even if we’re reading the material for your take on it, we’d be very disappointed if your opinion is based on inaccurate facts.   It’s an easy way for your credibility to take a hit.
2. Use down-home examples.  The more personal and localized your examples are, the better the reader can relate to it.  Plus, your stories will tend to be more concrete and meaningful this way.
3. Integrate creative writing elements.  Even a basic element like dialogue can make your essays more memorable and interesting.

When should you be using quotes?

1. Quotes are great when answering who, what, how and why questions.  That way, the information is coming from a reliable source, rather than just the author of the story (who may not have the credentials to speak first-hand on the matter).
2. Quotes are highly appropriate for divulging important information.  Again, readers appreciate when critical information comes from an authoritative source and quoting someone who falls under that category makes the information more meaningful.
3. Quotes are idea for official information.  Notice how news stories will always quote key political figures with regards to the government’s official stand on issues?  For the most part, it’s hard to take anything as official unless it comes from the words of an… uhm… official.
4. Quotes are your best medium when the source uses memorable and colorful language.   If the quotes you got from the source are interesting enough on its own, why bother putting it in your own words?  Use it — those colorful tidbits right from an interesting talker could end up being the highlight of your article.

How do you get good quotes?  By good reporting.  That is, talking to the right people, listening for the right things and recognizing when those right things come out of their mouths.

When you interview sources, try to record as much of what they say.  Develop special notation if you have to in order to keep up.  With audio capture now available on almost any smartphone,  it’s also a good idea to get a recording of all interviews you do (make sure to get permission, of course), so you can play them back later and look for anything you may have missed.

As a rule, look for colorful remarks from the source.  Those are the ones you take note of and write down on your notebook.  Chances are, those are also the ones you’ll want to use in your articles, as they add color and personality to your writing with relatively little work.

Most people tend to speak in patterns.  The faster you can get used to the way they speak, the sooner you can get into the groove of recording quotes better.  Chances are, you’ll begin to catch on when they’re speaking assuredly or with some hesitation.  Those instances of the former are the ones that should make  for the best quotes.

1. Go to Amazon.  Search in the “books” category for your blog’s topic.  Look at the results.  Chances are, there’s a treasure trove of content ideas scattered throughout there.
2. Go to Clickbank (or a similar venue for informational products).  Search for your blog’s topic and look at the results.  Like Amazon, there’s usually a good load of ideas to wade through here.
3. Check your blog’s comments.  Look at the kinds of questions and requests people are posting.  There’s no more appropriate content than ones your readers are actually asking for.
4. Look at forums that’s related to your blog’s topic.  See what issues are being discussed and what questions people have.  Like your blog comments, those could make for targeted and specific topics to cover.
5. Look for products to review.  Commerce makes the world go ’round and reviewing products in your niche allows you to do your part in supporting the exchange of money.
6. Profile notable personalities in your field.  Even the most obscure niches will have several leading personalities that your readers could be interested in.   Find out who they are and see if you can get some interview time.  If you can’t, just do round-up of what’s available about them.

Starting Off

When writing the article body, make sure to start with a point that you can link to your opening.  That way, you can reference the hook you decided to used as a lead, making the jump from the introduction to the article body just a tad more natural.

Keep It Simple

Stick to one main point per paragraph.  Doing that simplifies things for the reader, as they only need to focus on understanding one point for every block of sentences.  Plus, they can pause to digest each after going through every paragraph.

Keep It Cohesive

Make connections between all the points you make, expanding on previous details and linking each to the main idea.  Don’t leave it up to the reader to connect the dots.  Instead, put it in plain sight to avoid any misunderstanding.

Be Willing To Experiment

If the best way to attack a point isn’t clear, then take your best shot.  Even if it sounds weak, forging on allows you to move forward in the piece.  You can dive in to rework it again later after the first draft is done.

Build Up

Never forget that you’re building up towards a conclusion.  Hence, every point you include in the body should serve a purpose towards fulfilling that.  It’s not enough to be engaging — every idea you explore should help advance the argument.

Here are some things to go over:

Is your attitude consistent across the material.  It’s not uncommon for drafts to sound different in the beginning and the end.  The trick is catching it and doing revision, so that it conveys a consistent attitude.  If you don’t, you can end up respectful in the beginning, angry in the middle and apologetic in the end.  The zig-zag in attitude may not bother you, but it’s likely to leave the reader confused.

Structure in paragraphs/sections/chapters.  Are they, more or less, even?  Or are there wild variations.  Make sure noticeable variations are probably justified, lest it’s just going to look weird.

Vocabulary.  Do you start out talking to a technical audience and devolve into writing for a general readership?  Keep the depth of language consistent throughout or risk alienating your audience right in the middle of the content.

Pace.  There’s no rule that says writing has to be slow or fast in its entirety.  However, all deviations from the standard pace should have a purpose.  Otherwise, it’s just a random occurrence that could throw readers off.