When you need to write a report or presentation by 11 am and it’s nine o’clock already, you can become paralyzed with fear.

Build a fast plan for your document. Here’s how:

Reduce your topic to a single core word and then brainstorm using a mind map or cluster. For example, if you’re writing a report on “Sales This Quarter”, cluster everything you need to include in the report.

Be completely relaxed as you brainstorm. Write down everything that occurs to you. Within a minute or two, you’ll have enough material for your report.

Start writing — fast. You can move paragraphs around later, and leave “XXX”s to mark spots where you need to insert additional information.

Finally, write a one-paragraph introduction, and you’re done.

[tags]write fast, brainstorm business writing[/tags]