Don’t start with an outline; begin with a brainstorm
Author and writing teacher, Natalie Goldberg, urges her students to…” think the thoughts that come, and to write them down and make sense of them in any way they wish.” This is in direct contrast to what many writing manual
authors advise. How often have you heard (or read) that you should start with a primary idea, followed by subordinate ideas, etc, etc.

What many accomplished writers say is that when they do the primary, subordinate idea thing, they feel choked, stifled, and anxious. By contrast, successful writers often get started by brainstorming ideas, writing down anything that comes into their heads. Goldberg also urges writers to …”Stop battling yourself… shut up, sit down and write.” It really doesn’t matter what you write, just get a lot of stuff down on paper or on the computer.

Show; don’t tell
Over and over, skillful writers tell me that the key to good writing is “showing, not telling.” Rather than writing that you are passionate about something, describe it in detail, tell a story, show the reader why you love it so. Rather than saying that you love animals, write something such as, “Whether a tiny, slithery salamander or a magnificent, giant elephant, I am simply a nut about animals. I have spent most of my life raising, caring for and rescuing them.”

Natalie Goldberg says “…a writer’s job is to make the ordinary come alive.”