A secret way for people who aren’t naturally logical
to organize their writing as if they are.
Why is writing so hard, and why does it take so long?
Writing is not hard. Writing is fun. Riffing, rambling, and brainstorming are like skinny-dipping for your brain.
What most people find hard is not writing, but editing.
Like the Swamp of Sadness in The Neverending Story, editing is grueling and depressing.
Me, trying to coax a transitional sentence out of the first draft swamp.
Unless you know a few tricks to make it less so.
Headline Jeopardy is one of them.
How do I know if I need Headline Jeopardy?
I don’t know if you need Headline Jeopardy, but I do.
Maybe it can help you, too.
Here are a few signs you can benefit from Headline Jeopardy:
Let me show you a trick that works for me.
What is Headline Jeopardy, please?
Headline Jeopardy makes it easy for you to scan what you’ve written so you can organize and edit it. I wouldn’t call the editing process fun, but at least it won’t drain you of hope before you sink into the Swamp of Sadness.
Where did you learn Headline Jeopardy?
Thanks for asking. It all started in 7th grade biology class. Our weekly homework was to write 25 questions for that week’s textbook chapter.
Memorizing facts is boring. Questions made memorizing easier so we could practice with flash cards.
Q: What’s the innermost part of a cell called?
A: The nucleus
And on, and on. Still boring.
Every week there was a test.
People who got an A were rewarded with a jawbreaker.
People who got an A+ received a giant, baseball-sized jawbreaker.
It was disgusting watching those A+ students dripping drool onto their desks and their papers. And, yes, one time I was one of them, and that was the only time it was not disgusting.
Without the questions to assist me, I never would have won any jawbreakers.
After a while, I started making up questions for everything I read or wrote. I SEE HISTORY QUESTIONS.
That’s what inspired Headline Jeopardy.
How does Headline Jeopardy work?
Follow these steps:
- Start at the beginning. Read through the first paragraph or sequence of ideas and ask yourself, “If this idea was answering a question, what would that question be?”
- Insert the question as a headline for that section.
- Treat yourself to a jawbreaker.
- Continue to the next set of sentences or related ideas. Repeat.
- Once you’ve given questions to every idea, scan them. Look for how the questions interrelate. Which question would logically go first? Which would go after that?
- Put the questions in order—not the long, rambling answers.
- When the questions flow logically, you can do one of three things:
- Take them away and keep editing without them.
- Replace the questions with real headlines.
- Use the questions as headlines. Questions are real headlines, too, you know.
- Have another jawbreaker. No one’s looking.
Why is editing by making up questions so much easier?
Questions give us a break from focusing on all those bright, shiny, idea toys. They gently remind us to make a point. Curiosity takes the place of self-imposed logic. It’s a nice mindset to have when your ideas feel vulnerable and small, and aren’t quite ready for the editorial chopping block.
Can you give me an example?
How about this blog post? Editing took half as much time because Headline Jeopardy helped me structure it fast.
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10 Comments
Kelly! How you have SAVED me from the Swamp of Sadness. One of the biggest, saddest files on my desk top is my folder called Half-Baked. Next time I wade in, I will do so with your post by my side.
M&Ms have always been my reward of choice. (I’m also partial to “Swedish Fish” but I haven’t seen any in years.) Giant jawbreakers — were they the ones that changed colors? Hmm. I think maybe it’s time for lunch. Or I could skip right to the candy.
Mahala Mazerov´s last blog ..Longing for Home
This is brilliant. And *exactly* what I need right now. It even sounds like it might be fun…especially if I imagine Alex Trebek reading the headlines.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Patty K´s last blog ..Creativity comes in waves
Helpful AND hilarious? What is, Kelly Parkinson.
Oh, and the rambling while failing to make an actual point? So me.
Briana´s last blog ..Urgency
Brilliant, hilarious, and oh-so-wisely helpful. Thank you for this, Kelly!
Wheeee…Headline Jeopardy!
Hiro Boga´s last blog ..Going Away
Kelly! You are a GENIUS! I love this and am totally stealing it.
(Except for the “writing is fun” part. Writing is not fun. Writing is a beautiful torment. But all the rest, yeah.)
Amna Ahmad´s last blog ..The dignity of certain futile acts
This is so simple and so smart. Going to do this on my blog, so people aren’t mired in my words.
Bridget´s last blog ..Shiva Nata A-Ha and a Dignity of Dragons
Kelly ~
Your mind is a gold mine!
I’ve spent the last half hour perusing through your posts and then I happened to read what you’ve noted at the bottom of your opt-in box. I had to get up from my chair and go grab a Kleenex. I laughed so loud and so long, I cried!
You are a rose amongst the thorns.
Thank you for helping me to release endorphins all over the room!
Melanie
Melanie´s last blog ..So You want to be a Freelance Writer
Brilliant, Kelly! I can see this working really well to structure presentations also. Could have used it last week!
eryn w.´s last blog ..Screen Printed Inspiration
Had I posted anything on my blog recently, I’d have thought my (inevitably) long and rambly post would have inspired you this one!
Thank you for yet another piece of your brilliance – I have a feeling this will help me with the aforementioned long and rambly thing…
Mahala, AH, the infamous Half-Baked folder! Do you know about Evernote? It’s the half-baked folder on steroids. I love it! Good thinking with the M&Ms. Right now mine is coffee, and it’s just for getting out of bed. There should definitely be more candy rewards.
Patty, thank YOU? I’m sure Alex would love to do the honors for your blog.
Briana, You win the prize! Yay, thank you.
Hiro, Thanks for helping me avoid the swamp of sadness, indirectly inspiring this post!
Amna, steal away, it’s an honor. And I can definitely relate to the beautiful torment bit.
Bridget! I love your words. Maybe the headlines make them into puddle jumpers, so people can just splash around between paragraphs.
Melanie, Oh gosh, thanks so much! It’s so kind of you to say that. This is going up on my mental bulletin board so I can read it the next time I’m in the swamp of sadness.
Eryn! Hi! This could totally apply to presentations.
Josiane, keep on rambling, my friend, keep on rambling. Now that your hair’s short, your posts need to be long!