Writing is a necessary evil for many of us. It might be documentation, it could be website/application copy, or maybe you’re writing your mom a book for all the things you find yourself saying to your child that she said to you.
Outline
So you have your topic, great. You might have even thought of a catchy title or a few good points to make, that’s awesome. Did you write them down? OK, now put them off to the side while we take a step back to get… boring.
Don’t worry. This is a short but critical task.
What is the root of the topic? Write that down at the top of the page/document. The next step is to hash out what components make up the root.
For instance: If you were writing about how to bake a cake (the root topic) you might have ‘ingredients preparation’, ‘cookware/utensils’, ‘baking instructions’, etc.
This can be as strict or loose as needed. In the case of documentation, you’ll want to spend a decent amount of time on the outline.
My rule of thumb… The more complex your topic is, the more time I spend outlining the abstract concept of what to write at a higher level.
Decide on key points
Once you have your outline it’ll be much easier to decide on what is and what is not important. These sub-topics create a manageable focus area and remove the need to think of your topic as a whole.
Rough it out
Just start getting ideas on paper. YES, I said paper!
… ok, ok, it doesn’t have to be paper. However, if you find you are having trouble I highly recommend the old school method and giving
With your outline and key points you essentially already have your paragraphs and sentences. This is where the magic happens. Your knowledge, opinion, or creativity is allowed to flow. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar, just scribble it down as fast as your brain can send it to your hand.
Grow through practice
We all make mistakes. Everything you’ve ever learned has been trial and error.
Every document, post, or story you write will be better than the last. Our brain is a muscle, and like all muscles, they need to be worked in order to grow. That doesn’t mean it has to be miserable.