Episode Details

The moment we sit down to write an article, we need to do a fair amount of research.

Case studies, stories, they're all needed to create a solid article. Yet that very research causes us to spend so much time on our article, that we're exhausted. Is there a way to research without getting tired?

In part two we explore the techniques I use to write extremely detailed articles. Let's find out how to go about a strategy that works every single time.

-------------- Stage 3: Never research when writing the article

If you were to put all the energy drainers together and pick one of them, the biggest of them all would be research.

You need research to prove your point, or to get examples, or even just to get the First Fifty Words going, in your article.

The only time you should not be doing that research is right at the point you're writing the article.

I have to admit, I'll still occasionally do some research when I'm writing the article

I want to make a great start to the article, so I'll go looking for a story. And the moment I do, I'm off into the big black hole called the Internet. What's worse is that many hours later, I may not find the facts or story I need. And the article is still left undone.

Which is why Evernote was invented?

Now I've covered the concept of Evernote (or if you like, OneNote) before. And the idea is pretty simple. We all collect information, but can't find the information at the exact time we need it.

Well, that's what Evernote is stunningly good at doing. No matter if you're online or offline, Evernote can comb through all the information you've saved. It can even read your handwriting if you take a picture. And so, you don't have to go hunting at the last minute.

I was a cartoonist and cartoonists used to keep reference books

Photography was too expensive a hobby when I was growing up, and so all our reference books were based on cuttings. Newspaper cuttings, magazine cuttings, etc.

And when I started in the world of copywriting, again, all those case studies were stored in those Windows folders. But it was a pain to find anything in a matter of seconds. But as you probably know from past articles or podcasts, I store everything in Evernote. And I started storing hundreds of stories and data that I'd possibly need for future articles.

I don't even know what the notes are going to be useful for in the future

I have information about fungus, elephants, Air BNB, The Invention of the Mouse, the Lemon Index—and hundreds of pieces of information that can be easily found in the future. As I write this piece, I am going to need some of that Air BNB information. I'm also going to need some Zappos information.

And it's all there, already in place. I'm not going to need to go online and waste time. In fact, since I was going to write that article sometime this week, I've already reviewed the material and marked out what's important.

See how much energy is being saved?

Most writers spend enormous time in research. The way I go about it is to clip stuff the way I did when I was a cartoonist or copywriter. I clip in advance, store it in Evernote. Then when I need it, it's already curated, underlined if needed and ready to use.

Even so, there are times when I need information and can't find it

In such a scenario, I tend to use my own case study. Let's say I wanted to write an article about "how to find the right problem" (which is what the Air BNB story is about).

And I can't find a story online, or I'm just not prepared. In such a situation, I pop over to 5000bc or on Facebook and ask others for their stories. Often the stories will come thick and fast, but more importantly, their story will lead you to remember a story of your own.

When you're stuck, use a case study from your own business or life

You already know all the facts; you have the details. And a case study brings your business to life. If your case