Make Something
Order the ugly first draft
Ask for a rough draft you intend to tear apart. Reacting is easier than creating — use that.
Write a quick, rough first draft of [the thing]. Don't polish it — I want something to react to, not something finished. Favor concrete over careful.
Why it works
A blank page gives your judgment nothing to grip. Even a mediocre draft converts "what do I write?" into "no, not like that — like this," which is a far easier question.
Watch out
The draft's structure sneaks into your head as the structure. Before editing, ask yourself what you'd have said with no draft at all.
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