Powerpoint your way to writing success.

Cliff Atkinson (on his Beyond Bullets blog) has some excellent tips for writers.  He suggests working through your idea first -- taking multiple opportunities to present it to others -- before commiting it to writing.  He even goes so far to suggest writers prepare a powerpoint presentation before writing a word.  Here's why:

This approach can actually reduce the risk that an idea will berejected, because it's been pre-tested in the marketplace of ideasfirst, and pre-qualified against 3 principles:

1. Your idea grows stronger as it moves from the abstract to the concrete.An idea in your mind doesn't do anyone else any good until youcommunicate it to other people. Get your idea out early and find outwhat the world thinks.

2. Whatever doesn't kill your idea makes it stronger. Askpeople what they think, and appreciate people who disagree -- they'rethe ones you can give most credit toward strengthening your idea. Getfeedback, find out what works, discard what doesn't, and keep movingforward.

3. Your excitement for your idea is what gets other people excited.As you share your ideas with other people in person, you have theunique opportunity to demonstrate the passion that will help youovercome the forces that will surely work against your idea. Withoutyour passion, no one else will become passionate.

I have been really struggling with my MoreSpace essay.  I love my outline and ideas, but I am having a difficult time making it "flow".  I'll give Cliff's ideas a try and you can be the judge when you read the essay -- if Todd doesn't fire me from the project first because I'm behind.