for writing more effectively

• Start with a mind map. If you have never done a mind map, read this article. 

• Do your mindmap on an A4 sheet of paper, or several if you need it. We also recommend using the White Magic Paper. You can buy it on Amazon. 

• Make a plan with a sequence of words. Use bullet points to structure the ideas that came out from the mindmap and shuffle the order around until it starts to flow and make sense. 

• Know your audience. Once you figure out who you're writing for and why your natural writing voice can shift to accommodate this. 

• Don’t try to imitate another writer. You will find your style once you start writing.

• An informal language is a good approach. Write as if you are “chatting to a friend in the pub”. No jargon, no pompous words. 

• Don’t try to show off with the use of difficult words. The reader will switch to another article. 

• Shift that fear of the blank page by starting with draft 0.5 instead of draft 1. 

• Try copying your plan directly into your first draft document and use it as a skeleton to write around rather than starting with nothing.

• Don't worry about writing it in order when doing your draft. The beauty of typing rather than handwriting is that you can jump into a piece of writing at any point; you don't have to start at the beginning. 

• Writer's block comes when you freeze up over getting the right words out in the correct order. 

• Introductions don't have to be written first - they are better written last.

• Do it all again the next day if you can’t do it in a couple of hours. That’s fine. Leave it and go back to it the next day.

• Ultimately, the key is this: habits form through repetition. The more you write, the easier it becomes. In getting comfortable with the idea of writing regardless of your mood, you become less reliant on needing to feel inspired or 'ready', and more capable of making steady progress. 

• When writing your article, it is helpful to answer the following questions:

• What is the central message of my article?

• What is important, useful, new, or counterintuitive about this idea?

• Why do readers need to know about it? How can my idea be applied today?

• What is the source of my authority? On what previous work (either your own or others’) does this idea build? References, white papers, reports, etc.

• What academic, professional, or personal experience will I be sharing in this article? 

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