Outlines as a Cure for Blank Page Panic

Forget waiting for inspiration. A good outline is all you need to break through and find traction for a first draft. Here are three outline frameworks I use to get started.

Writer’s block doesn’t come from lack of talent. But it can kick in when you're trying to move fast before you know where you want to go.

I almost never free-write without some kind of outline. I know some writers thrive in the chaos of a blank page, but I’m not one of them. I need a shape. A direction. Even a loose one.

A rough structure makes the whole thing less overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be detailed. It just needs to show me where this is going and give me an idea of what I want to see in each section.

And yes, it’s flexible. You can move things around. Toss stuff out.

But you need something to start shaping the idea, or you’ll sit there forever, waiting to feel “ready.”

Try This Today:

• Skip the intro. Start with 3–5 bullet points for the body — the main moves you think you want to make.

• Under each point, add a quick note: what’s the takeaway? Why does this part matter?

• That’s your first draft outline. That’s momentum. Now write the part that feels easiest.

• Let the structure evolve as the piece takes shape, but don’t start without it.

Structure isn’t the opposite of creativity. It’s what clears the path for it.

🔒 Full subscribers: Keep reading for three go-to outline frameworks I use across blog posts, client content, and my own writing. Adapt them to fit your voice and your goals, and add these to your toolkit.