As a Writing & Rhetoric major, I indulge myself in writing whatever pops into my head from either boredom or inspiration. Although, for some reason, whenever it comes down to writing something that has a specific due date, I find myself procrastinating until the last minute. To be fair, I know I am not the only one who has done this. I have learned that the sheer lack of motivation and exhilaration of racing the clock always allows me to produce my best pieces of work. Weird right?
No matter who you are, every Odyssey content creator understands this feeling. You’ve come down to less than 24 hours to submit your article to your editor and haven’t even started on ideas for this week’s article. The struggle of putting thought to paper (or blank document in that manner) and resisting the temptations of social media. You can see the finish line in the distance, determined to do whatever it takes to cross that line and join the winners on the other side. So, without further ado, here are the 14 steps to writing an Odyssey article as told by the show "Sherlock."
1. Brainstorming Ideas
The first step whenever you write anything is to brainstorm ideas. You don't have to come up with a topic immediately. Usually this step begins on the day last week's article gets posted and you are forced to realize that you have to write another article. Think about current issues, the type of genre you would want to write about, and what would interest your readers.
2. Wondering if Your Topic is Good or Not
Once you've narrowed down some topics, you often start to doubt yourself. Wondering whether or not it would be appropriate or relevant to your audience. Being in the beginning of the week, you take some time to go over the list and choose a topic that you like...
3. Scrapping Your Original Idea and Starting Over
Until the next day when you wake up and realize it was a horrible idea and start over again.
4. Procrastination Part 1
Over the day or two, you prolong deciding on another topic and get distracted with work, school, or social activities. Let's be honest, we've been here multiple times and its pretty nice to not have to think about the article.
5. Pre-deadline Panic
It's Wednesday! You have successfully wasted 5 days and only have 2 more days to submit your article. This is the stage where you start to buckle down and focus, determined to write an article.
6. Writer's Block
All writers know the struggle: When you sit down and try to focus on an assignment or other writing activity and have absolutely no thoughts what so ever. All of the ideas you had before have left your mind. Staring at a blank document has never been more frustrating.
7. Procrastination Part 2
After about an hour of sitting in a chair with writer's block, you try to do something else to clear your mind and hopefully become inspired by a new original idea. However, this often leads to more procrastination. You, once again, forget about writing the article and end up wasting more time.
8. Narrowing down your topic
You wake up the next morning (the day of the deadline) and realize you only have hours left to submit an article. Magically, you force yourself to narrow down your topic.
8. The Epiphany
This stage can occur from anywhere between 10-24 hours before your article is due. (Unless you are on top of your game and already wrote your article. Then you are awesome.) You've finally figured out what you are going to write about and feel excited.
9. Writing Some More
Not wanting to procrastinate any longer, you take to your writing device of choice and begin typing your masterpiece.
10. Coming Up With a Clever Subheading
Catching the audience's attention with a subheading can be difficult. It could take up to five minutes, but you create a subheading that will catch anyone's eye.
11. Submitting the Article to the Editor
The hardest part is over. You feel successful and confident in your article and patiently wait for it to be posted.
12. Sharing the Article and Wondering if Anyone Will Read It
Your article has been edited and posted. Now all you have to do is share it on social media and hope that people will read it.
13. Basking in Self-Pride and Achievement
Your article has been shared by a few people and has an adequate number of views. Take time to pat yourself on the back for getting your article in on time.
14. Repeat
Alas, after celebrating over the increasing social engagements on your article, you realize your next article is due at the end of the week. Good Luck.
