Compartmentalize the Creative Process

I seem to fall into a trap as a writer again and again.

I sit down and try to cram multiple modes of creativity into one sitting. I sit and stare at a blank page trying to come up with ideas for what to write. Then, I jot down a quick outline or skip that step completely and start writing aimlessly.

Yet, I know that the most effective way to be prolific is to do each of these tasks separately.

Here is what I have learned about the creative process from successfully writing books and hundreds...