At the 2025 New England Area Conference, I attended a powerful breakout session titled “Mind the Gap: Writing Your Next Chapter” led by Erica Holthausen. Erica, a freelance writer, shared not only her process for writing for major publications but also introduced the tool: NotebookLM. The session was packed with valuable insights on aligning writing with career goals, identifying content gaps, and leveraging AI for more effective writing.
As someone deeply involved in instructional design, indie publishing, and lifelong learning, I found her approach aligned beautifully with how I help others and approach writing myself. Here’s what stood out—and how I plan to use these strategies going forward.
Why Write for a Major Publication?
Erica opened with a key question: “Why do you want to write for a major publication?” Your answer to this should drive your content, tone, and publishing goals.
Common Reasons:
- Amplify your brand: Establish yourself as a subject-matter expert.
- Advance your career: Publications act as assets that build authority.
- Support your mission: You’re not writing just to get published—you’re publishing to serve a purpose.
“You’re not writing to get published. You’re getting published to achieve specific business or career goals.”
Use the Power of Existing Audiences
When you self-publish on a blog or podcast (as I often do), you build your own audience from scratch. However, writing for an established platform drops you into the midst of an already engaged audience.
It’s like stepping onto a stage that’s already packed with listeners.
The Challenge?
Not everything gets accepted. You need to offer something new—a unique angle, a fresh voice, or a deeper perspective.
Find the Gap with Tools Like NotebookLM
Erica emphasized the importance of identifying content gaps—places where something should exist but doesn’t. She uses NotebookLM, a powerful AI tool that analyzes large bodies of content and identifies what’s missing.
Types of Gaps to Explore:
- Topic Gaps: Subjects not yet covered.
- Perspective Gaps: Fresh viewpoints on familiar issues.
- Depth Gaps: Articles that are too shallow and need expansion.
- Integration Gaps: Connections that haven’t been made between topics.
If you’re an instructional designer like me, consider using this approach to submit to publications like Inside Higher Ed or EdSurge. You could use NotebookLM to map out the editorial landscape before pitching.
Start with Your Own Knowledge
Once you’ve spotted a gap, resist the urge to dive straight into research. Instead, go “human first.”
Erica recommends turning off the AI and writing everything you know about the topic first.
Here’s my go-to process:
- Record myself discussing the topic (often while on a walk).
- Transcribe the audio.
- Clean up the transcript using AI.
- Cross-reference with other articles to fill in the gaps.
This approach ensures that your voice remains central to the piece, while AI enhances—not replaces—your content.
Use the SOAR Framework
To help shape your article, Erica introduced the SOAR framework. It’s simple but powerful.
S.O.A.R. stands for:
- S – Serve. Who is your audience?
- O – Objectives. What do you want to achieve?
- A – Actionable. Is the piece actionable and practical?
- R – Reputation. What do you want to be known for?
If someone analyzed all of your content, what would they say you’re known for?
The reputation piece was new and key to me. I’m now planning to examine the contents of my blog—over 1,200 posts—to identify any patterns that emerge. What themes define my body of work? What’s my voice across time?
Write the Shitty First Draft
Erica encouraged us not to chase perfection early. Instead: “Write the shitty first draft.”
Great writing happens in the editing, not the first draft.
Once the draft is down, go back to those reference articles and:
- Look for alignment that supports your points
- Contrast opposing views
- Layer in deeper insight
- Cite what you use
This mirrors my approach to writing books, articles, and even online courses.
Final Thoughts: What I’m Taking Forward
Key Takeaways I’m Applying:
- Use NotebookLM to analyze blog content for patterns and gaps.
- Map content gaps before pitching articles to new publications.
- Lean on SOAR to align each article with my long-term goals.
- Keep embracing that shitty first draft.
For anyone looking to scale their impact—whether through writing, speaking, or training—this session provided a blueprint. Start with your purpose, find the gap, use AI as a partner, and never forget: the first draft is just the beginning.
Call to Action
Are you writing with purpose—or just writing to be heard? If you haven’t yet, explore tools like NotebookLM, revisit your past content, and ask yourself: What gap am I uniquely positioned to fill?
Let’s all mind the gap because what’s missing could be exactly where your next chapter begins.
Photo by Ann H and Andrea Piacquadio
