Last week, we explored the idea of writing with intention, understanding why you write before you begin. I said that purpose gives writing its pulse and keeps you steady when the blank page stares back at you. It is the guiding spirit to your writing!

But there is more to do even after you settle your purpose. You must bring it to life by writing it, and to do that effectively, you must give your work direction. That is the structure which shapes your dream on paper.

Move From Purpose to Plan

Every aspiring writer has a message, a story, or an idea yearning for expression. If you do not define your direction, this story can get lost in a myriad of possibilities, reducing your capacity to achieve what you desire.

I have met many prospective writers who are burning with all the passion you can imagine, yet they are so overwhelmed by it all. The thing is that too many ideas can cloud your judgment and leave you uncertain about what best serves your purpose. I have been there too!

It is at this stage that you must plan and give direction to your writing. That means moving from the vague ambition of achieving something to drawing a roadmap for accomplishing that mission. Here, you must define three essential things, namely:

1.         What exactly do you want to say?

2.         To whom are you saying it?

3.         How will you get it done?

This plan is how you turn your intention into effect.

What is Your Core Message?

You should be clear about what you want to say, that one thing you want your reader to take away after reading your work. Your answer to this question is like your compass; it keeps you focused and filters out the noise. Whether you are writing a meeting report, a guidebook, an election manifesto, a newspaper article, a memoir, or a novel, this core message is the thread that holds it all together.

When I speak to aspiring writers who work with me in my coaching practice, I get them to identify and write down their message in just one sentence. Something like: “I want young Nigerians to see that integrity still pays,” or “I want my readers to understand the value of hard work.”  Once you can articulate this, you have your compass. Every sentence, paragraph, chapter, or example you cite must lead back to it.

Know Your Reader

Writing with direction also implies that you are writing to someone, not into the air, and possibly not to everyone!

When you know your reader, you have an idea of their mission, struggles, hopes, and worries, you will choose words that are relevant and sharp, effortlessly hitting the target. You imagine they are sitting right next to you and say exactly what they need to hear. This helps you serve them through your writing. Only by identifying your ideal reader can you achieve that.

So, while the purpose is your “why,” your reader is the “who,” and these two should dictate your “how.”

Decide on a Path

Once you know what you want to say and who you are addressing, decide on how to proceed. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you are writing an office or policy report, a church bulletin, a blog post, or a book, plan your approach and go for it, one step after the other.

A work report may aim to inform about decisions; your path should then be clear and brief. Your thought-leadership article may seek to persuade or inspire; in that case, you would want to deploy storytelling and evidence. For your book, start with a chapter outline or a writing schedule. Ultimately, you create a plan and follow it!

The point is this: direction gives shape to purpose. Without it, even your most inspired ideas can scatter like seeds in the wind. But when you decide on a path, no matter how modest, your writing gains focus, discipline, and eventual fulfilment.

So, set your path. Please choose what you will write this week, decide when you will do it, and commit to seeing it through. Every purposeful word written in the right direction takes you one step closer to the writer you are becoming.

But Stay True to Your ‘Why

You should understand that every writer will face moments of doubt. Inevitably, there will be distractions, discouragement, and even that familiar silence we call writer’s block, when the words refuse to come. When you reach this almost-always inevitable juncture, return to the purpose for writing at all. That is the anchor that keeps you steady.

Turn Direction into Discipline

Now, discipline is the only thing that sustains your direction. You must find the grace to commit to the path you have defined for yourself. Create routines that support your writing. You may choose quiet hours, accountability partners, getting a coach, and so on—small, consistent actions compound into remarkable results.

No writer gets there in one day; it is the small efforts that congregate into great success.

So, what’s your direction this week?

Remember, you don’t need a perfect plan; you need a purposeful one.

Take some time this week to sit with this thought. Sketch out a path, no matter how rough. You’ll be surprised how much direction emerges once you begin.

Hit the reply button and share your ideas about what you have read and how your own writing is going with me. I cannot wait to hear from you!

Have a great week, meanwhile.

Niran Adedokun,

Writer | Communications Strategist | Book Strategist | Author of “Every Journalist Should Write a Book”