Test it out - Make your idea specific - Focus

Writing FAST - Jeff Bollow 2012

Test it out
Make your idea specific
Focus

Once you’ve got your idea fleshed out, it’s time to test it. A few simple tests make all the difference in the world.

One test is whether or not your Preview makes sense. Are you telling a story? Make sure it’s interesting, has a point, and takes the reader on a ride. Look for holes and logic flaws.

Are you writing non-fiction? Same thing. Make sure your idea is clear and tangible. Will your approach really put your idea inside your reader’s mind? Think about it. Hunt for missing elements. It’s much easier to fix it now than after you’ve got it all written out.

Another test is whether or not your Preview is actually effective. If you can’t tell, and you don’t have a very good sense of these things, don’t risk it. Ask someone. Get some feedback. Show your Preview to someone who can be objective. Don’t ask them whether it’s “good” or not; ask them whether the idea is clear. And don’t avoid this because you’re afraid of rejection. It’s easier to change course now than after you’ve been working on it for months!

And one last test of your Preview is whether or not you can expand it. This happens all the time. You get a great idea, you build your Preview, and then when we get to the next step, you have no idea where to go. It’s crucial for long-form writing. Make sure your idea is full and rich enough for all those pages!

Listen, the point is this.

Don’t race into it. If you’re anything like me, you want to get your writing over and done with. It’s a pain in the butt, and you’d rather just finish it as quickly as possible and move on.

But if you race into it, you’re just making it harder on yourself. Test your idea first and make sure you’re running in on solid ground. Think carefully about the best way to hit this idea.

Because once we get through the next chapter, the real fun begins.