Building the Perfect Writing Structure One Layer at a Time

We all know when a piece of writing ‘makes sense’. It feels logical and guides us through to the end without any missed steps or wrong turns. At the end of the article, we feel satisfied and are likely to go back for a second helping of the author’s writing.

Here is the benefit of sound writing structure — we achieve our aims and deliver the message effectively to our readers.

But what you might not know is that structure is layered. It’s not ‘beginning, middle, and end’. It’s not ‘introduction, main body, and conclusion’.

I think of writing structure as three layers that work together in one well-balanced dish. When we plan carefully and execute the perfect structure, our writing tastes beautiful.

Read about the layer below. Let’s get cooking!

Macro structure (the sponge)

A cake wouldn’t be a cake without the sponge (but if it’s only sponge, it’s not much fun).

Macro structure is the big stuff — the blocks of content. In fact, there are three ingredients here:

1. The major points an article discusses or highlights
2. What we decide to omit
3. The order of the content

This is the kind of structure we are familiar with. When writing a plan, we try to develop our ideas in a logical framework that readers have seen before and can easily consume (e.g. problem-solution or chronological).

The recipe for the perfect macro structure

The keys to getting your base layer right come in the planning stage. First, choose the framework that delivers their message in the most palatable and familiar way to readers.

Once the framework is set, limit the parameters of what the article will and won’t cover.?Readers don’t want to eat the whole cake; they only want a slice.

Finally, add all of your ingredients. Effective planning is more than just listing and ordering points. Go one level deeper and plan the subsections and examples you’ll use in your article. Now stir the ingredients into the right order.

Pour your mixture onto the page and bake at 180 degrees. While we wait for our sponge, let’s prepare the next level of writing structure.

Meso structure (the cream)

The cream holds our layers together, and the frosting covers the naked sponge. But this mid-level structure is what’s often missing from hastily assembled content.

Meso structure is the sentences and phrases which guide readers from one section to another. We need reassurance about where we’ve been and where we’re going.

AI content is particularly bad at including this structure in its writing. That’s why whole sections and paragraphs feel disconnected and entirely separate. As computers cannot understand the prompter’s (or reader’s) intention, they simply cobble together relevant sentences without guiding us from one point to another.

Essentially, linking can go backwards or forwards. Backward links refer to what we’ve read (or what we already know), while forward links often exist at the end of sections, telling the reader what’s coming up. Check the end of the macro section for an example.

The recipe for the perfect meso structure

Sprinkle in some forward links and backward links to guide your readers. These can include full sentences, mini conclusions, time expressions, numbers, and sequencing adverbs. The best flavour is obtained through variety. Don’t allow the reader to notice overuse of any one method.

Add meso structure during the writing process, but use it sparingly. If every section offers a recap of previous material and tells us what’s coming up, it’s too much. Readers need your guidance, but overzealous frosting can ruin a cake. It’ll make it too sweet!

Micro structure (the decoration)

The final element which completes our tasty tapestry is the decoration. Micro structure is the?small stuff — how we order our sentences to expose our points. Yet, it’s the part of the cake that packs the biggest punch.?(Think about eating the cake in the picture. You’d taste the berries more than the rest, right?)

One way to think about micro structure is through an academic argument-building technique. The acronym PEEL is a handy way to ensure effective micro structure.

P = Point. Clearly state the topic of the paragraph.

E = Explanation. Develop the parameters of the point and clarify if necessary.

E = Evidence. Use examples and empirical evidence to prove your statement.

L = Link. Mini conclusions can show ‘why’ you made this point and ‘how’ it connects to the overall topic.

The recipe for the perfect micro structure

Once your cake is baked, let it cool. You won’t be able to fix the decoration until it’s had time to rest.

After a good amount of time, go back and edit your writing. Check your evidence is the finest quality and get the ingredients of each paragraph in order.

Make sure each point shines with brilliance, and the reader gets to taste the precise nature of your argument. Add linking adverbs to taste and dust your article with a few links back to the main idea.

Remember the three levels of writing structure. Apply them during the planning, writing and editing stages of your process, and readers will keep coming back for more.

(read the full version of this article on my website)

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• Top 10 reasons I've unfollowed you on LinkedIn (yes, I know about the typos).

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