The three steps of Idea - Write - Edit stand apart, so you can do them in short free slots instead of needing a whole free day. Each slot finishes one step and ends with something in your hands.
Without a process, a post needs one long, unbroken block of time to do in one sitting. But a few free hours a week rarely come together: 30 minutes here, 1 hour there, 2 hours another time, then 30 minutes and 1 hour again. Split by step, those scraps of time still turn into a post.
Before you begin
- You know the three steps of the process (see The Idea - Write - Edit publishing process).
- You have a topic for your next post.
Steps
Write down the free slots in your week
Look at this week’s calendar and write down each stretch where you can sit still: 30 minutes here, 1 hour there, 2 hours another time. A few hours spread across the week is enough for one post.
Match each step to a slot
Pair each step with a slot that fits it. One common way to split it:
| Slot | Step | When done, you hold |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | Idea | A locked outline |
| 30 minutes to 1 hour | Write | A rough draft |
| 2 hours | Edit | A finished post |
Finish one step, then pack it up
In each slot, finish exactly one step. Save what it made in a place that is easy to find, named after the post, so next time you open it you can pick up right away without having to remember. The stopping point at the end of each step is where you can rest without losing the thread.
Start each slot with what the last step made
A slot for the Write step starts by reading the locked outline again. A slot for the Edit step starts with the rough draft. You do not need to go back over the whole process, only the thing you just put away.
Practice recording if your time is very short
If the slot for the Write step is too short to type in, switch to recording, even if you write better by hand. A 30-minute recording usually gives you a thick enough draft. Then recording becomes a skill you need to practice.
Write down the time each step takes
For each post, write down how long each step took. The step that always runs longest is where you stumble. For example, an outline that takes four or five days means you need to practice the Idea step.
Check your schedule
- Does each slot end with something finished? If one step runs over several slots, break it into smaller parts or give it the longest slot of the week.
- When you open old work, can you pick up right away? If you have to reread from the start to remember, add one line, “pick up from here”, before you pack it up.
- After a few weeks, are the steps getting shorter? You get faster by doing it again. If they are not getting shorter, see which step is still the longest and practice that step on its own.
Next steps
How to build an outline from a one-line topic
Use your first slot: from a one-line topic to a locked outline.
Practice Idea - Write - Edit until it sticks
All three steps for each post, timing each step, getting feedback, then practicing the step where you still stumble.
Common questions about Idea - Write - Edit
What to write with, how many posts a month, whether it brings sales, and who does not need this process.