All writing comes from a single idea, expanded into various branches. And that process is exactly what you need to embrace the moment you start.
As soon as you get your writing assignment, write down the single idea you will try to get across using it. For most types of writing, this will be a one-line description that encapsulates what the piece will be about.
If you’re writing the sales letter, that single idea will be “to get prospect to call, so we can sell them on the merits of the product.” For a book summary, it might be “to outline the key ideas discussed in the book.” For an office memo, it might be “to announce the new night shift schedule.”
Doing things with a one-line synopsis as a starting point helps you drill down the core message of a document, allowing you to have a clear starting point. As you have probably experienced in the past, there’s nothing worse than writing a piece with only a hazy idea of what it’s going to be about.
As you write with your favorite writing software, keep that one-line reminder on hand. It will help keep you grounded and focused on the actual task at hand. Any time you stray from the target, a quick glance at it should show you where you should be focusing your energies on.
Tags: starting writing, writing approach
