Tips for Getting Started

The blank screen can be intimidating, especially for new writers. If you’re having trouble starting your book, article, or other content submission, try some of these tactics for overcoming the paralysis of writer’s block.

Decide on a venue before you write. Don’t start writing until you know who you’re writing for and what the requirements are. Choose a venue, and read the submission guidelines.

Define your audience. Make a list of specific audiences you want to reach. What do they already know about your topic? What do they need to know? How will they use the knowledge they gain from your content? Writing your answers to these questions could help you arrive at the "hook" that will grab readers’ attention.

Respond to an existing publication on the same topic. Begin your own article or book by directly responding to another author. Search the Knowledge Center for works previously published by ASQ on your topic. ASQ’s Quality Information Center also offers research assistance as a benefit for members!

Start with a compelling quotation, a surprising fact, or striking statistics. Grab readers’ attention by introducing them to lesser-known ideas and facts.

Tell a personal story. Writing from personal experience often feels easier and more natural than scholarly analysis. Warm up to your topic by telling a relevant anecdote.

Start in the middle. If you’re not making progress with your introduction, start in the middle. Figures, charts, and specific examples in particular give you concrete material to work with. You may find that interpreting a figure over the course of a paragraph or two will help put you in the right frame of mind to draft more substantive sections of your manuscript.

Use a process approach. Understand that writing is a process that you can manage one step at a time.

Still wondering how to get started? Review our frequently asked questions or ask an editor for assistance.