Start with something messy, get to the point, get an editor, and make it good.
Criticism is the best sign you're onto something.
I believe email-based status reports are the clearest and best signs of managerial incompetence and laziness.
You have no idea if your idea matters until you share it.
Snark from nerds is a leading indicator that I'm wasting their time and when I find it, I ask questions until I understand the inefficiency so I can change it or explain it.
Watch with awe and amazement at how quickly an engineer will become totally annoyed by inefficiency.