Date:         Thu, 5 Feb 1998 23:15:46 EST
From: orgnaiztaion? <mbarker@MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: [WRITERS] Tech: Focus?

On Thu, 05 Feb 1998 14:29:47 EST, BARBARA HARRIS <TCZJ32B@PRODIGY.COM>
scribed:
:) Is focus the problem?  Is inability to organize thoughts the
:) problem?  If so, then how come I can do interactives, and gather my
:) thoughts reasonably coherently when I'm doing filler type things?
:) What is really the problem?  Has anyone experienced this and found
:) some solutions?

Not sure what it is, but I think I recognize the symptoms...

Here's one of the tricks I use.  I print out whatever I've gotten
written (which often includes chunks from dictionaries, etc.)

Go away from the computer, sit down and read through it all.

Put the stack away.

Now, from memory, without pushing, write down the keywords, key points
(pencil and pen works best for me here...err, make that pencil and
paper)  Not really an outline, just the main bits I want to stress.

Rearrange.  I number them, mark through them, copy them to another
sheet in a better order, discard the oddball one that doesn't fit.

(often, sleep on it and see what the backbrain wants to toss up.
sometimes there's a great point or a metaphor just waiting for you to
NOT pay attention, when it will casually wander out.)

And then, with this little list of points (3-5, seven if I'm pushing
my readers), I'll sit down and pull out the pieces of the writing that
fit the list.  Discard extra.  Add transitions and other stuff.

Put it in the oven and bake...no, that's another story.  How to Serve
Children?  (do you prefer rare or well-done, sir?)

That "put the detailed writing away for a while and write down a
simple list" step seems to help me focus a lot.

Maybe?

tink