Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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June 14, 2006

6+1: The Ferrari Analogy for Organized Writing

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:46 am

I Don’t Have to Read Your Desk

Power Writing Series Logo

A messy desk is like a garage — it’s where you keep your tools. It helps if it’s organized, but your car will run fine even if it is not. But messy writing is a sign of messy thinking. It’s proof that our ideas are not under control. No one wants to be behind the wheel with someone who can’t keep the car on the road.

Organization is the second trait of good writing. Great writing needs a plan, like a road trip needs road. Ideas need to be organized before we set off.

Organizing a Writing Road Trip

Mountain Road

I’m sure you’ve read a blog post, or maybe twenty, that left you wondering where it was going and why it kept stopping and starting. Reading was like riding in a half-dead jalopy. (Jalopy don’t you love that word? It sounds like a food.)

Reading should be like a fabulous road trip — the blog equivalent of riding in a fast machine stuck to the road, handled by an experienced driver.

It’s true.

I’m Italian. I’ll take the Ferrari.

The Ferrari

To be in the right car, sailing down the right road, take time to move readers with rhythm, logic, and pacing with style. To write like a Ferrari means to carry folks along on the words. Thoughts are crafted and organized to unfold a message the way a scenic drive unfolds a view. Try these 6 (plus 1) ways to order, structure, and organize an expert ride through your idea.

A great blog post is like a car date. We spent time together sharing your view. I follow your logic and then, if we connect, we talk about it.

We’re much more likely to connect, if you pay attention to having me in the car with you. I’m likely to be a bad conversationalist if I jump out of your Ferrari while you’re going 120 mph on some country road. A dead reader, by the way, isn’t good branding or blog promotion, nor is one with tread tracks emblazoned down her face from having been run over by your post. :P

Quality writing is the best blog promotion. Ideas and Organization are two ways to get there. The next is the ultimate seduction — your voice.

Have you ever taken a ride in a blog post that was totalled? It’s not pretty.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you think Liz might help with your writing, see the Work with Liz!! page for details.

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Filed under Basics, Successful Blog | 12 Comments »




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12 Comments to “6+1: The Ferrari Analogy for Organized Writing”

  1. June 14th, 2006 at 4:36 pm
    Starbucker said

    Liz, I love this car analogy (and your blog too, I just recently discovered it and this is my first comment). I do a LOT of driving in the Rocky Mountain west as part of my job, so I can get these images in my mind very easily. To me, a good blog is like a good Interstate Highway in the mountains – many signs and guideposts, much visual stimulation, lots of room to maneuver and not get slowed down (4 lanes instead of 2), and easy access to other crossroads and viewing points. A not-so-good blog is like a straight 2-lane dirt road that’s flat for 50 miles – bumpy, boring, no signs or guides, and God forbid you get behind a tractor. I always try to stay on that mountain freeway when I blog. It’s a high (pardon the pun) standard that I hope with more practice I can consistently hit. Thanks for the advice!

  2. June 14th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Starbucker
    I love someone who can think in pictures, especially ones that involve cars. I’m big on cars too. You too this one to another level. I like your description more than mine. You should do a post on this too.

  3. June 14th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
    Starbucker said

    Thanks Liz – I will post on this. I highly recommend those drives in the Rockies, by the way. A great one is Denver to Grand Junction on I-70 (when there’s no traffic, of course). All the best!

  4. June 14th, 2006 at 9:24 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Starbuciker,
    I’ve done that drive before. I like taking my little car out for a spin now and then . . .

  5. June 25th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
    Working at Home on the Internet » Blog Archive » This Weeks Helpful Reads…Week 10 said

    [...] The Ferrari Anology for Organized Writing by ME “Liz” Strauss… Liz compares good writing to a good driving experience as a passenger. [...]

  6. October 11th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
    Successful Blog - 6+1 How to Write Without Self-Consciousness said

    [...] Related articles 6+1 Traits of Effective Blog Writing 6+1: The Ferrari Analogy for Organized Writing 6+1, 2, 3: Save Me from Beginners and Experts NOW! [...]

  7. August 22nd, 2007 at 3:52 am
    MBA On The Run said

    [...] 3. The Ferrari Analogy for Organized Writing [...]

  8. December 22nd, 2007 at 3:44 pm
    7 Wonders and 777 Links : TerryStarbucker.com said

    [...] “The Ferrari Analogy For Organized Writing” – This one is very important to me, for many reasons. It clarified my thinking on how I should write (and therefore blog), it introduced me to Liz Strauss, one of the best teachers in the blogosphere, and it led to one of the best learning weekends of my life, SOBCon07. Not bad for one little post! [...]

  9. December 24th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
    Lots O’Links Thursday : TerryStarbucker.com said

    [...] Strauss likens good blog writing to driving a Ferarri, and presents 6 (plus 1) ways to “get your blog post in the right car and sailing smoothing down the right road”. [...]

  10. January 4th, 2008 at 9:24 am
    A Birthday Salute to Successful Blog: All Hail Liz! : TerryStarbucker.com said

    [...] Liz has been a blogging mentor to me, ever since I discovered her back in June of 2006. I remember the exact post that hooked me – “6+1: The Ferrari Analogy for Organized Writing”. [...]

  11. December 18th, 2008 at 11:09 am
    What Was the Post That Inspired You? (A Starbucker Survey) | TerryStarbucker.com said

    [...] June 14, 2006 6+1: The Ferrari Analogy for Organized Writing [...]

  12. October 25th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
    The Most Important Blog Post You’ll Ever Read : TerryStarbucker.com said

    [...] What caught my eye was a post she wrote about how writing a good blog post is like driving a Ferrari. [...]

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