Writing Pillars

Unity, coherence and transition are the tripod upon which good writing rests. All three of them are worth taking a look at. Unity means that all your sentences link clearly to the primary message of your piece. You don't stray from that message and , in fact, your message threads itself throughout your entire piece. If you've done this, your writing is unified. Coherence means your thought progresses smoothly from idea to idea, from scene to scene, from image to image. Your words and sentences work together and create a connected whole. If your writing is coherent, readers don't get lost. They can follow your thinking and your storytelling. Your writing makes sense. Transitions are the guideposts that guide readers from beginning to end. They are the words and phrases that let readers know a scene has ended, a new idea is coming, another description is unfolding. They are like traffic signs that tell readers when to stop, when to pause, and when to change directions. Without them, readers would wander aimlessly through your writing in search of its purpose. Using these three pillars of effective writing - unity, coherence and transition - will keep you on track as a writer and will make your writing much more enjoyable and meaningful for your readers.