Validate Your Idea to Produce Your Best Project (Back to Basics)
[Ep 228]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou have an idea for your next writing project. \n\n\n\nThat's great! \n\n\n\nBefore you get too far\u2014before you write too much\u2014you need to be sure this idea is going to fly with your audience. You need to validate it so you move forward with a concept that, depending on your purpose, will truly resonate, connect, teach, persuade, inform, or entertain.\n\n\n\nLet's look at three ways to validate project ideas:\n\n\n\nValidate \u201cin house\u201d: run it through personal filtersValidate through research: check what exists alreadyValidate through audience: ask, survey, and test the idea\n\n\n\nValidate \u201cIn House\u201d\n\n\n\nThe first method to validate is to run it through personal filters. Ask yourself if it fits with your brand, if it will serve your audience, and if it\u2019s a fresh angle on your primary topics.\n\n\n\nThis may take only a minute or two, but sometimes we rush past it in our excitement over an idea that captivates us. If we skip this step, we may create content that draws an audience uninterested in anything else we write.\n\n\n\nIf I as a writing coach started producing content about style because I'm interested in a trend, I might click publish on an article about fall colors that draws a new audience of women who like to discuss shirts, skirts, and shoes.\n\n\n\nBut if I pause and validate \u201cin house,\u201d asking myself if this is a good fit for my primary purpose and audience, I\u2019ll probably focus my energy elsewhere. After all, I\u2019m creating a place online for men and women looking for support with their writing, so devoting a long post to discussing red pumps and French braids won't reach or retain a wide range of writers.\n\n\n\nBut let\u2019s say it passes this initial \u201cin house\u201d test. You believe your idea will serve your audience well and you haven't explored this topic at length in the past.\n\n\n\nThe next step is to do some research\u2014see what else is out there on this topic.\xa0\n\n\n\nValidate Through Research\n\n\n\nThe main way to research is, of course, to type keywords, key phrases, key ideas, and key concepts related to your project\u2019s idea into a search engine and see what it pulls up.\n\n\n\nI suggest you quickly jot down everything you know about this idea before the search. Then you can compare all the articles, videos, podcasts, and memes with your existing knowledge and slant.\n\n\n\nDon\u2019t be discouraged if you find a ton of material\u2014don\u2019t assume it\u2019s all been said before. In fact, that\u2019s a good sign that people are searching for this kind of content. You'll see how to contribute to the greater conversation.\n\n\n\nAnd that\u2019s the key. As you explore what other authors, bloggers, and speakers in your niche have created, you realize how your project will be similar, but different, and broaden or deepen readers' understanding.\n\n\n\nIf need be, return to 6 methods to right-size your next writing project to find a different slant. You can continue to work through those until you land on that distinct spin you can bring to this project.\n\n\n\nPro tip: As you\u2019re cruising the internet and clicking through to interesting content, be sure to grab all citation information while you\u2019re there. Because if you decide to quote an expert in the field or to include an excerpt from one of the articles, you want that citation information at your fingertips. Quoting people builds credibility\u2014and so does proper citation.\n\n\n\nWe told our high school debaters it's always good to bring an expert to the podium with you to raise your credibility. I think it\u2019s the same with writers\u2014when we cite other sources, we bring a level of integrity and credibility to our work.\n\n\n\nSearch engines give you a broad look at what\u2019s existing on this topic, but you can conduct a more academic search, as well.\n\n\n\nLibraries will give you access to journals and publications to find peer-reviewed studies. Also, you\u2019ll be able to search countless newspapers and magazines. Just go online to your library\u2019s portal and find out what\u2019s available to you.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI\u2019d like to highlight a few specific websites where you can focus...