Write about the smallest viable idea you can find. That idea should be clear, detailed, and easy to visualize — just like a shiny dime.

Here's my new article.

It’s tempting to write a magnum opus, but the lack of constraints causes the article to spiral out of control.

But it's better to focus on small topics because they're bigger than they seem. So instead of writing panoramic thought pieces, focus only on your shiny dime.

Choosing broad topics is one of the biggest mistakes young writers make. As @paulg says: "Expect 80% of the ideas in an essay to happen after you start writing it.”

Start small and stay focused.