The Writing Edge for Business Writers: 6/9/17

Jun 9, 2017 | Reading Lists

You’re a businessperson. You may not think of yourself as a writer, but you know that writing well can boost your results and your career. Naturally, you want to do better. Every week I point you to articles and blog posts that I think will teach you something or spark an idea or two. Some weeks there are more pointers than others.

This week I’m pointing you to pieces on a different way to outline, publishing compromises, and what to do before you outline

From LJ Sedgwick: How to Avoid Writing Boring Outlines using the IKEA Method

“You know that you know everything you need for your post. But how do you get the ideas out of your brain and onto paper? How do you turn them into an outline? Worry no more. We’re going to use the IKEA method to brain dump those ideas. Then we’ll assemble them into a solid blog post that will last for years to come.”

From Jane Friedman: Fast, Cheap, and Good: What Publishing Compromises Are You Making?

“When I worked in publishing in the late 1990s, my boss often repeated the business maxim, ‘Fast, cheap, and good—pick two.’ This is the belief that it’s impossible to produce something of high quality very quickly and at low cost. Companies have to prioritize two of these and sacrifice the third.”

From Melissa G. Wilson: 5 Steps to Take Before Your Write Your Book Outline

“One of the questions I get asked most often about writing a book is, ‘How do I get started?’ I always respond, ‘Start with great research.’ But so often, instead, I hear from new authors who write their book outline and are halfway through their book before they reach out to me.”

Sources I Check Regularly

I find the posts and articles that I share with you on The Writing Edge in many places. But there are a few that provide insightful pieces again and again. Here they are.

Frances Caballo

Jane Friedman

jeffbullas.com

Jerry Jenkins

Joel Friedlander

Joanna Penn

Melissa G. Wilson

Men with Pens

Merce Cardus

Problogger

Becky Robinson’s Weaving Influence