Establish the key points you wish to make in your writing. Ask yourself, "What do I want to say?" Determine your purpose and your audience so that you can gear your writing to meet your goals and accommodate your readers.
Write each main topic on the blank side of an index card. For example, if you were writing an article on Clydesdale horses, your index cards could be labeled as follows: Health and Nutrition, Shoes, Diseases, Training, Transportation, Riding, and Gear. Be sure to use a separate index card for each topic.
Outline subtopics on the back of each index card. Each of your main topics can be divided into several sub-topics. List the subtopics on the back of the main topic card to which they apply. The back of your "Health and Nutrition" card could read as follows: Common Health Conditions, General Health Care, Parasites, Behavior Changes and Illnesses, Alternative and Natural Health Care. Only list the topics that further the point of your article that you wish to include in your final manuscript.
Arrange your index cards in a logical order or the order in which you wish to approach each topic.
Use your index cards to guide your writing process. Once you have addressed all the subtopics on your first card, go to the second card, and then the third.
Expound on each topic. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence which contains the thought that will be carried on throughout the paragraph. You will find it easier to keep your thoughts focused if you write your topic sentence first, even if it is not the first sentence of the paragraph.
Keep your paragraphs short. Say what you need to say, and avoid ramblings which often lead your thoughts astray. Stick to the information on your index cards, and avoid the temptation to explain when it isn't necessary.