Want to know the secret to getting past the blank page when you sit down to write?
Here's how I've mastered it. THREAD!
Here's how I've mastered it. THREAD!
1. You need to write an ugly first draft.
This doesn’t have to be pretty, make sense, or go into detail yet — it just needs to be words on the page.
I’ve seen lots of people talk about the idea of “writing ugly” at a high level, but not many that spell out how to do it.
This doesn’t have to be pretty, make sense, or go into detail yet — it just needs to be words on the page.
I’ve seen lots of people talk about the idea of “writing ugly” at a high level, but not many that spell out how to do it.
2. First things first: Create a framework.
Before you try to get too in-depth, create a loose framework. It should look something like:
· Intro
· Background
· Specific Points/Ideas/Tips
· Conclusion
This allows you to visualize what you'll build upon. It’s your road map.
Before you try to get too in-depth, create a loose framework. It should look something like:
· Intro
· Background
· Specific Points/Ideas/Tips
· Conclusion
This allows you to visualize what you'll build upon. It’s your road map.
3. Middle First
You’ll want to focus on the middle section of your outline first. Nail down the examples or points you want to walk through.
Include internal + external resources (and quotes!) for reference. Bullet points work well here.
You’ll want to focus on the middle section of your outline first. Nail down the examples or points you want to walk through.
Include internal + external resources (and quotes!) for reference. Bullet points work well here.
4. Background
Once you have the middle section complete, look at it as a whole to determine what kind of background information you need to share so the reader has relevant context.
This could be a fictional scenario, a story, a quote — something that provides a backdrop.
Once you have the middle section complete, look at it as a whole to determine what kind of background information you need to share so the reader has relevant context.
This could be a fictional scenario, a story, a quote — something that provides a backdrop.
5. Intro & Conclusion
These two parts come last. They should be similar, but not identical. (Sisters, not twins.)
Your introduction welcomes the reader with a conversational tone, while the conclusion goes over what you explained and reminds him/her of the one main takeaway.
These two parts come last. They should be similar, but not identical. (Sisters, not twins.)
Your introduction welcomes the reader with a conversational tone, while the conclusion goes over what you explained and reminds him/her of the one main takeaway.
6. Editing
When your ugly first draft is complete, you can then go back in to polish things up and perfect your work — but not before then. Self-editing while you write is the enemy of completion.
When your ugly first draft is complete, you can then go back in to polish things up and perfect your work — but not before then. Self-editing while you write is the enemy of completion.
7. Finally: give yourself enough time to go back after a day or two to check and re-edit with fresh eyes.
As the idea rolls around in your mind, you might have new thoughts/ideas to add. Let it marinate.
As the idea rolls around in your mind, you might have new thoughts/ideas to add. Let it marinate.
8. The Bottom Line: By embracing an ugly first draft, you can write more efficiently — and over time, you’ll notice that the process becomes simpler until you never fear the blank page again.
Want more tips like these? Get them in your inbox: Kaleighmoore.com/newsletter
Want more tips like these? Get them in your inbox: Kaleighmoore.com/newsletter
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