Writing 'flow' is a tricky thing to define.
What is it? My Webster dictionary defines 'flow' as: 'to move gently, smoothly and easily'.
My definition would be: 'a clearly understood stream of thought'.
Your spell and grammar-check programs won't show it, because flow is a big picture item.
If you look too hard at the little details, you might not even see the overall view at all; let alone help your reader to do so.
'Writing flow' determines how easily your reader can work out what you're trying to say, so it is important.
Achieving this flow can be likened to assembling a jig-saw puzzle.
First of all, you will probably choose your puzzle depending on the picture on the box.
Likewise, think about what you want to achieve before you start to write; and keep it in mind as you continue.
When you're ready to start your puzzle, you first lay out all your pieces, and then start to organise them into little piles of similar colours, lines or patterns.
This can be quite time-consuming, depending on the size and difficulty of the puzzle, but it helps in the end.
It is like creating a work outline; which may seem like a considerable hassle at the start, but it makes your project go much more smoothly.
Next, you will find all the pieces with flat edges so you can join the outer edges together.
Likewise in writing - work out your 'edges': your introduction, conclusion, and major points.
Now comes the fun bit: fitting the remainder of the puzzle together.
You search through your little bunches of puzzle pieces - which are similar to your snippets of information, dialogue, and observations - to find the fitting pieces.
There is one very special feature of the most common type of jig-saw puzzle pieces: those little rounded bulges and corresponding gaps.
Those wonderful little design features mean that whenever you have a change in the colour, lines or pattern of the puzzle, you have a way to link the changes.
If you look at a jigsaw piece that fits between a blue sky and green forest, for example, you will see there is some of each colour on it.
You wouldn't be able to link the two parts of the picture together very well without such dual-coloured pieces.
Even if there is an abrupt change on the side of a piece, from one part of the picture to another, the little rounded protrusions on the pieces will guide the puzzle-doer to connect the two parts together.
Likewise, in writing, one point should lead on to the next as seamlessly as possible.
This is the 'flow' mentioned at the start of this article.
The reader shouldn't feel jolted from one piece of information to the next.
Just like those special jig-saw pieces enable the puzzle-doer to put the picture together, you also need to create links, to help your reader when you want to direct them to your next point.
How do you actually achieve this? The one-word answer is 'transitions'.
The longer answer is that it is a word, phrase or sentence that points your readers in the direction you want to take them, but is also linked to what has just been written.
Transitions create links.
Just like a jig-saw, you will also discover that many of those tricky transitions are the last and hardest pieces to find.
Sometimes you won't be able to find the piece you want until you've done quite a bit of searching.
Sometimes the piece you want will be seen 'staring you in the face', and you'll realise it's been there all the time.
In this article, I have had a few different ideas I have wanted to link together: making your writing flow, and assembling a jig-saw.
I have therefore tried my best to create linking phrases, sentences or even paragraphs, so that you can join the pieces.
Can you see where I have done this? Look for words like 'next', 'now comes', 'just like', and so on.
Creating writing with 'flow' will enable your readers to see your word picture clearly.