Where do you do your best thinking?
Yesterday morning, I had no idea what I’d write next. So I visited my idea place. In less than ten minutes, I had the kernels of three things to write.
At the same time, I took a shower.
I don’t use idea shampoo. But for as long as I’ve been writing, it seems my best ideas come … Continue reading
Do you impose your own deadlines?
This past Saturday, I planned to work eight hours for my client. My estimate fell short. Eight hours put my goal in sight, but not yet reached. So after dinner, I worked another hour or two until I finished those pages.
Because of that, Monday I was free to start the next section — one step closer to the project’s completion.
Don’t try this in your initial draft.
Forget tight writing and let your book’s first draft flow. Then practice tight editing. As Strunk & White advise in The Elements of Style, retain only those words that earn their keep. No freeloaders.
In the process you’ll find many candidates for deletion.