I borrowed this technique from Gary Halbert (he mentions it in some of his newsletters)....

Here's what he does.

Let's say the topic you've decided to write about is "cult" films....

Okay.... Now what?

Get a whole bunch of books on this topic, either your own or from a library.... Start reading.

Next to you, keep a stack of 3" x 5" index cards.... When you come across an interesting fact, note it down! (If it was me, I'd probably also note the reference, in case I wanted to look it up again later....)

Keep reading and making notes on your cards.... Only one fact per card!

After a while, you'll have a pile of facts....

For example, with cult films some of these facts might be....

* Herschell Gordon Lewis was first a successful "exploitation" (later cult) film director, then later he became a famous and successful copywriter!
* HG Lewis made what could be one of the first female biker films, "She Devils on Wheels" in 1968
* Instead of regular actors, in "She Devils on Wheels" HG Lewis cast real female bikers!
* He made the first "gore" film, "Blood Feast" made in 1963, which started the whole "gore" genre which continues with horror films today
* One of the famous cult science fiction films is "The Day The Earth Stood Still" from 1951
* Most "cult" films weren't intended that way -- but some were. An example is "The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" made in 1978
* etc. etc.

The next step is to sort these facts. Sit down, and start flipping through your cards.... Decide what facts you want in your book or report, and what you want to discard.

Then, put the facts you're keeping into an interesting and sensible order....

Once you have all your facts you want to include all lined up, the next step is easy!

Go through your cards, one by one in order, writing about the topic on each card!

Before you know it, you'll have a product!

This is similar to what many people do when they plan a book, except that I think using index cards probably makes the process easier....

I always worked things out on pieces of paper, but in my opinion, index cards are much easier -- and more fun -- to handle. :)

I have stacks of index cards EVERYWHERE since I started using them in this way.... I have one stack of index cards just with headlines. Other stacks have notes on different topics.... Personally, I love this technique. :)

- Dien Rice