Going On A Word Diet

There are three ways to write a first draft. One is to inkwhatever surfaces, in whatever order without regard togrammar, spelling or staying on topic. After the freewrite, the points, and message extracted for notes or anoutline. Time is its adversary and clarity chisels its wayforward slowly.

Or start with a plan that minimally includes a purpose,description, chosen structure, word count, objective,points, message, and possibly a mind map or outline.Patience is its adversary and clarity the benefit.

Third, you hold the pen, connect with your higher power, andallow the recording session to begin. You become anaqueduct for a message, usually to humanity or yourself.Dr. Wayne Dwyer, on his PBS show with the same name of hislatest book, says, "I connected with God and the book [Powerof Intention] seemed to write itself. I didn't know whatwas going to appear nor did I do any planning." Hecontinues to explain how a very lose but clear outlinevisually formed right before each writing session. Itbecame clearer while he created an outline. The water justgushed afterwards and he could hardly keep up. Control isits adversary and clarity and enlightenment forms after thewriting.

We frequently read that writing requires organization,clarity, focus, and the discipline to write tight. Yet,seldom provided are methods on how to leave out the lard"before" the ink scratches the page--saving editing time.

Organization also contributes to lard remove. Some writersbelieve that organization stifles creativity while otherstake an opposite viewpoint. There is a compromise --organization with a twinge of discipline. Highproductivity, a requirement of freelancers, requiresorganization.

Here are four strategies on how you can eliminate excesswords and increase productivity before they hit the page:

1. Build massive creative steam before starting to write --see and taste the words before you begin. Robert Fritz, anexpert and author on creativity, expands on this processwith progressive clarity through each of his three books.Fritz explains how important it is to push the idea,generating creative tension, until the last part of thefirst stage of creativity. He continues to explain howimportant it is to carry this first energy through to thesecond stage, which doesn't carry its own energy. He alsodiscusses how each of the three stages requires a separateset of skills for writers. And why the two top reasons whywriters lose interest or drop projects--lost creativetension and didn't have the skills for the second stage,becomes frustrating, and gives up.

2. Dr. Stephen Covey says, "Begin with the end in mind"when managing time. That same philosophy works just as wellfor writing projects. First, fully define the project,including purpose and goals, and your reader. "A 150-pagepersonal development self-help book for coaches on..." is anexample. Minimally include the word, page, and chaptercounts, publishing plans, and description paragraph.Experts at the annual Maui writer’s conference, highlyrecommend writing a 25-word description before you begin theproject.

3. Choose a structure that matches your writing style andresults desired. Just like articles has six basic writingstructures, so does fiction, science fiction, how-to, andother genres. As a new writer, you might want to master onestructure at a time.

4. Outline and match to word count desired. The actual wayyou outline does not matter. Be it a napkin or toiletpaper, mind map or clustering, computer or crayon. Anoutline reduces lard and helps minimize tangents. Writeyour project description at the top of the page, then,sketch out the outline, keeping in mind the word count andthe reader. Next, reduce the number of items or branches tomatch your defined result.

Getting the lard out of our writing before it indents a pageis like getting the lead out to exercise. Both requireconscious commitment and continuous dedication. Yet, justlike the pounds, both will get lighter.