When you’re finished writing a draft, cross out every other word. If the article doesn’t make sense anymore, add some words back.

That’s the way I used to write, but every once in awhile, I forget to do that and get verbose. Which is of course the opposite problem of what Chris is saying

@Chris: Another method I use very successfully to break the blank page is as follows. I write a one- or two-sentence summary of what I want to discuss, then move on to another article, or to my RSS feed browsing. For each article that sparks interest in me, I write a brief summary and move on.

As soon as I get inspired, I go back to article #1 (or whatever) and start writing. I’ve talked about this method here at Perf b4. It helps that I’ve been using it for years, and is the reason why I’ll work on 6-10 articles simultaneously.

Because of this method, I’m almost never stumped, and it’s why I’m currently posting 45+ fairly length articles per week, for pay or otherwise. (Not including my 7 e-paintings per week.)

So you are talking about the meta level of organizing things and I am talking about reaching an efficient deadline for an article

Real example: You plan to write a series of articles about one subject but you are starring at the blank page and don’t know how how to start. That’s a perfect example where a Mind Map can help to create content and also not to forget content (for the series).

Mindmapping would help you see that. But for a single post, no. (I guess my problem is that I tend to work on 6-10 articles at the same time. Hence why mindmapping works for me.)

In the case of writing a single article Mind Maps don’t help too much but create irritation instead. The reason for that irritation is that writing an article is a linear process (from the beginning until the end). An outline which is also linear (!) helps much more and the process of filling paragraphs is more helping to get the end result.

To create a linear document – like an article – from a ‘free’ Mind Map creates additional work. This way you have an additional step in the process of writing to overcome.

Mind Maps are great for creating editorial workflows – basically great for everything which is pretty abstract and needs visualization.

Pick a paragraph, any paragraph. Rewrite it to make one point on the current topic.

Rinse and repeat until done.

Delete all the remaining paragraphs from the original document, if any.

Rewrite the title.

Publish.

You’re done.

It would be nice if I could haul out a nifty trick that works every time, but I typically rely on two key techniques (interestingly, both were mentioned above).

First, if you can talk about it with clarity and coherence, then you can probably write it. If you can’t verbalize it, then you probably haven’t whittled your concept down to its core.

In other cases, consider constructing a mini-outline. Keep the ideas tight. And the bullet points brutally simple. It’s not art, it’s a framework, so don’t wax poetic.

Typically, you’ll discover several concepts whirling around where only one should be. Keep whittling away, and you’ll do away with any schizophrenic thinking.

Good luck. And happy blogging.

If I am doing research PFF helps a lot because I drag & drop the research result into PFF and edit the collected content later by adding my text. That’s like an outline made of links and quotes.

“If you can’t put the words right, it’s not worth writing”

When I have sat down for hours, writing, rethinking, rewriting, rearranging, struggling with my thoughts and my words, I have learn that it’s a sign that what I write is too premature to share with others. Lost time? No! I did think, write and digest the information and my thoughts. It’s just not ready yet for sharing with others.

Frank.