Oh, Alimonster - what a reference! Big ball of mud indeed! I can only admire a scholarly article that includes a Dilbert cartoon!
I saw a suggested methodology once that was quite similar, in reference to writing an article (or novel, etc.). Long lost the reference.

1) Write an intro that describes what you will write.
2) Throw this intro away. Wait a minimum of one day.
3) Rewrite the intro, and keep this copy.
4) Write the article.
5) Throw the article away. Wait a minimum of two days.
6) Write the article again.
7) Refer to the saved intro. If the article does not fit, modify either the intro or the article (just jot editing notes).
Rewrite the article, taking whole paragraphs as desired from the last copy.
9) Present to a reader and start real rewrites.

Oh, well - the original was shorter and much wittier.