Sometimes, I have ideas running through my head like children during break time in a chaotic school yard. They’re all screaming for attention, the one trying to seem as important as the other.
However, when you write content, you want your readers to remember a central idea from your piece.
Examples, stories, data points exist only to support that single thought. If it doesn’t serve the core message, it doesn’t belong in your writing.
It seems obvious, but is actually hard to execute. My brain is constantly teasing me about other relevant angles.
Relevant doesn’t mean necessary.
Now, I save those ideas for their own articles.
The “One Idea” Test
Here’s a simple test I use now.
After writing my first draft, I read through and circle every distinct concept I’m trying to explain. If I’ve got more than one circle, I need to either cut or expand into a series.
For example, if you’re writing about how to stay consistent with content creation, that’s your one idea.
You don’t also need to explain how to come up with content ideas, how to repurpose content across platforms, and how to analyze your performance metrics. These are additional ideas, and not supporting points.
When Multiple Ideas Work Together
Sometimes you need to write about connected concepts.
The difference is whether they’re nested under one umbrella idea or competing for attention.
For instance, if your central idea is “How to make better content faster,” you might cover:
- Time-blocking your content creation
- Using templates to reduce decision fatigue
- Batching similar tasks
These are three tactics supporting one thesis: efficiency in content creation. The reader leaves with one clear takeaway that happens to have multiple applications.
The Essential Editing Question
When you’re editing, ask this about every paragraph: “Does this directly support my one idea, or am I just showing off that I know stuff?”
Be honest.
Your job isn’t to prove you know everything. It’s to teach one thing well enough that your reader can actually use it.
Why This Matters
Focused content makes you easier to remember.
When you try to be comprehensive, you end up being forgettable. Your reader can’t remember all the information in your article, or what to do with it.
When you focus on one idea, you give them something concrete to hold onto. They can actually use what you’ve taught because they remember it clearly enough to take action.
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