Jonathan Endicott — Writing Process

Start with a claim

Each essay starts as one sentence that could be wrong, such as "discipline is a system". If it cannot be argued with, it is a topic, not an essay.

Draft in small units

A few hundred words a day, at the same time each day. The draft grows steadily instead of waiting for a free weekend.

Cut before polishing

The first revision removes: repeated points, warm-up paragraphs, anything that does not serve the claim.

Publish on his own site first

Essays go live here first, then to the newsletter and other platforms with a link back.

Revise from responses

Questions from readers show where an argument was unclear, and the essay is updated.

See the results: essays by Jonathan Endicott.

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