Prezi™ For Dummies®

Chapter 14. Ten Ways to Fill a Blank Screen

In This Chapter

• Planning in analog

• Using examples from the Explore tab to spur your thinking

• Choosing a layout

• Stating the problems you will solve

• Creating a timeline of the presentation

Fearing a blank screen is a universal condition. Writers, designers, artists, musicians, and most people faced with a large empty expanse to fill up feel some anxiety. Sportswriter Red Smith was quoted as saying, "Writing is easy. Just stare at a blank sheet of paper until beads of blood form on your forehead."

This chapter helps you avoid forming those beads as you open your prezi and look at the canvas. I provide ten ways to instantly begin to fill the canvas and take the pressure off. After you get started, you'll develop your own tricks.

Planning in Analog

When you start the planning process, take the time to think through all the different phases of the plan by sketching, erasing, and generally scribbling if you want to. Also, involving the sense of touch in your process can help stimulate creative thinking.

Michael J. Gelb, in his book, Innovate Like Edison, talks about how Thomas Edison used the visual thinking process to propel his ideas forward. He used what Gelb calls Kaleidoscope Thinking to become one of the greatest inventors in history. With a kaleidoscope, you see completely different patterns by simply making one change.

That's how Edison would work. He would take things apart and put them back together with added innovations. This would help him ...