The 8-Step Writing SOP: From Primary Sources to In-Depth Articles

This is the complete workflow I use for writing in-depth articles on my WeChat channel. Eight steps total: upstream uses Lilian Weng’s seven-step research method to think clearly; downstream uses my own progressive-expression method to explain clearly and be remembered.

In one line: think it through first, then explain it through; throughline first, then layers; sources first, then yourself.

The 8 Steps at a Glance

  1. Anchor: State the core question in one sentence
  2. Input: Read primary sources extensively
  3. Categorize: Rebuild a classification system
  4. Extract: Pull out the throughline
  5. Reorganize: Three-layer progression + anti-filter check
  6. Inject: Personal perspective + character arc
  7. Express: Small examples for big ideas
  8. Review: Eight-point checklist, no delivery without passing

What Each Step Does

1. Anchor: State the core question in one sentence

If you can’t say it, don’t write. The core question must satisfy three criteria: the target reader cares, there’s a conflict, it sparks discussion.

Know who you’re writing for before you start — keep it in mind, don’t write it into the article.

2. Input: Read primary sources around the question

Read the original reports, interview transcripts, earnings calls. Cover the key sources. Don’t pad with second-hand news briefs.

3. Categorize: Build a classification system for the material

See the underlying structure of the material, preparing for throughline extraction.

4. Extract: Pull out the throughline across all material

Express it in one sentence. This is the spine of the piece — if you can’t say it, don’t move on.

5. Reorganize: Layered progression + anti-filter check

Break free from any single source’s structure. Design at least three layers of progression around the throughline, escalating like an argument. Layers 4–5 can add deeper reflection, examples, or solutions.

Two iron rules:

  • Every sentence must connect to the next by cause-effect or contrast. No sudden jumps.
  • Anti-filter check: before drafting, map the material — what are its main parts? Does each serve the core question? Dropped parts need explicit reasons; never drop on “feels unoriginal.”

6. Inject: Personal perspective + character arc

Fill logical gaps with your own understanding, experience, and reasoning. This is the only legitimate source of “personal perspective” — it must come from real experience, never fabricated.

The character arc requires the “I” to be someone who changes:

  • Old self: precisely describe the past state and beliefs, so readers resonate
  • Moment of insight: reconstruct the turning point with concrete scenes and details
  • New self: what changed in thinking and action — leave the reader with something actionable

7. Express: Small examples for big ideas

Simple but profound: use metaphors and examples, not abstract jargon; care about the reader’s experience; guide their logic into yours like a tour guide; repeat the core point when needed to reinforce memory.

Fixed closing structure: summarize the core point first, then end with a sharp closing line — one that provokes thought or earns a nod.

8. Review: Eight-point checklist, no delivery without passing

  1. Is the core question clear in one sentence? Does it meet “reader cares / conflict / discussion”?
  2. Is the scaffolding hidden? (No “step 1 / layer 2” language in the text)
  3. Material map check: is every major part covered or explicitly dropped with reason?
  4. Fact check: are numbers and quotes verified against primary sources? Is personal experience faithful?
  5. Information density: does each section’s conclusion have enough key data/arguments?
  6. Sentence logic: any sudden jumps? Do cause-effect / transitions hold?
  7. Closing: “summary + closing line”? Does the line provoke thought or a nod?
  8. Formatting: short paragraphs, blank lines between sections, spacing around numbers/English.

Where It Comes From

Upstream is the seven-step research method from Lilian Weng’s (OpenAI researcher) blog — I took its “think clearly” part. Downstream is my own progressive-expression method from years of technical writing — responsible for “explain clearly and be remembered.” In October 2026, the two were formally merged into eight steps, adding the anti-filter check, character arc, and final review.

Who It’s For

  • Creators writing in-depth explainers (report breakdowns, interview transcripts, earnings analysis)
  • Knowledge bloggers who need to make complex information clear
  • Anyone using AI to assist writing but not wanting the “AI taste”

Not for breaking-news flash accounts — this workflow is designed for information density and personal perspective, overkill for quick news hits.