At 5:50 AM, when the sun is rising, I go through the following steps:

• Turn off distractions and enter hyperfocus by staring and writing down all other thoughts you have.

• Look and adjust the outline you have somewhat prepped beforehand. Could be ideas and links that you thought you would include, plus suggestions for headline and format.

• Craft the headline. Make sure it reflects the overall essay with a curiosity gap.

• Prep the page with the first 1-3-1 (sentence, paragraph, sentence), bullet points and subheadings.

• Write whatever comes out naturally. Feel free to bounce around different parts of the text depending on your instincts in the moment. Gather more info if needed.

• Read and prune the essay when you feel the essay is done. Adjust the headline if necessary.

• Grammarly to correct linguistic mistakes.

The key is to not think at all and just feel. You want to clear your head and be fully present. If correctly, your hands are typing automatically and you are just watching.

Don’t think, just feel. //Obi-Wan Kenobi

What to do when stuck

You have three options:

• Switch to another part of your essay and develop it. Jump around the text a lot to find the place with less friction. When you come back, you will find it much easier to continue.

• Check out resources if the sentence is not confident enough to stand on its own legs.

• Sit there and enjoy the moment. Patiently wait until your hands start moving on their own. Enjoy the background music meanwhile.

When in doubt, lower your stakes. Creativity cannot be forced. Just relax, enjoy and it will flow naturally.