Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011

Order and Sequence
Part 2. Writing the Draft

In real life, things happen in order. All the things we do are part of a long sequence of cause and effect. In the same way, articles and stories must have order. Even stories that include flashbacks follow a plan of order.

Problems with order usually arise from one of two causes: 1) The writer is not paying attention to order because he wants to finish the writing as fast as possible or 2) He is so enthused with expressing his ideas that attention to order is lost. Good writing shows a sequential development of ideas in an ordered structure.

To gain an understanding of order and sequence, find order and sequence in the stories and articles you read. Notice how ideas develop logically, how ideas are related, and how ideas are presented in sequence.

Concentrate on the order of ideas in your writing. For most pieces ideas should build logically from start to end. For most writers a chronological sequence provides a practical order. If you have trouble maintaining a logical order in your writing, write a list of your ideas according to time. Checking your list as you write will help you to follow a consistent sequence. For practice on order and sequence, do Worksheet 2.12 at the end of this section.