Base your essay/book around a single question, and other killer tips from Tim Ferriss

Fundamentally thinking and writing involves asking and answering questions. When identifying a subject matter for a book, it's more interesting to approach it from the perspective of the question you are trying to answer. The questions for the books 'The 4-Hour Body' and 'The 4-Hour Chef' were focused on minimal effective dose for physical fitness dimensions and transforming someone into a super accelerated learner in eight weeks, respectively. When stuck on a chapter, hiring someone to interview and record the conversation can provide clarity and help solve the problem. Good questions can break down mental walls and create connections between ideas. Asking outrageous questions can be more helpful than off-the-shelf questions, as it pushes one to look at the problem from a different perspective and challenge existing assumptions and constraints.