When you write a few sentences about a picture or one idea, every sentence should be about that same idea. That is called staying on topic.
Key idea
Every sentence should be about the same topic. Take out a sentence that is about something else.
Why it works
A reader follows your writing like a path. A sentence about something else is a sudden turn: the reader wonders why it is there and loses the way.
Worked example: Find the stray sentence
“Snow days are fun. We build snowmen. I like pizza. We slide down the hill on sleds.”
- What are most of the sentences about? Snow days.
- Snowmen and sledding are about snow days.
- Pizza is about something else.
Answer: Take out “I like pizza.”
Common mistake
Adding a sentence about something else in the middle, just because you thought of it. Read each sentence and ask: is this about my topic? If not, save it for another day.
For the grown-up. Children often add a new thought because it popped into their head; that is how thinking works. You can say, “That’s a good idea for a different page.” Keeping a list of “next time” ideas helps.