It’s tempting to just start writing with the first thought you have. I’ve done it myself many times. But it’s not productive.

Plunging into writing without thinking first—and developing an outline—is a recipe for wasting time. Inevitably, you’ll end up throwing away much of what you write, because it won’t relate well to your project. It will be like driving around while you decide where you should be driving to. You’ll waste a lot of gas.

Even when you’re deep into a project, pause often to think. Professional writers think a lot. They get up from their desks and wander around the room. Or they stare at the ceiling while they figure out what to say next.

Don’t cut this process short. If you’re on a tight deadline, write down the first thing that comes into your head, because that text is better than no text. If you’re not on a tight deadline, begin composing in your head. Consider what you’re trying to say. Look at it from different angles.

Then sit down at the computer or pick up your pen and get something down. Your chances of having something usable and relevant to what you’re doing go up if you’ve put in some thinking time first. It’s like the old saw about elections in Chicago, “Vote early and often.” Adopt the writing axiom of “Think early and often.” Your writing will be the better for it.

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