Divide Your Writing Project into Manageable Tasks
11 years, 2 months ago - February 05, 2013
Sometimes the worst part of writing an email, proposal, or pitch is getting started. Get over the hurdle by approaching the project as a series of manageable tasks. Poet, writer, and teacher Betty Sue Flowers envisions the steps as belonging to four different characters in your brain:
- Madman. Start by voraciously gathering research and other materials for the project, diligently keeping track of quotations and sources.
- Architect. Then organize the madman’s raw material into a sensible outline. Distill your ideas into three main propositions.
- Carpenter. Following the architect’s plan, write as quickly as possible — without worrying about perfecting your prose.
- Judge. Lastly edit, polish, and improve the piece. Do this in several distinct passes, each time focusing on only one element of your writing.
