My Writing Process….
Getting into writing as a hobby is like starting any other hobby, at first you’re slow and lumpy…however the more you practice, eventually things will fall in place and click. If they don’t right away…who cares? Keep going until they do. Like any good pursuit of interest there is no destination but a journey of evolution and learning along the way. I wrote my first blog in early 2018. It took me weeks to write and felt like I completed a novel by the time I was done. I look back at it now and it's so short compared to my typical blog. It was difficult to get started writing, but was well worth starting.
One of my favorite movies is Almost Famous. There is a scene where Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character (who plays famous rock journalist Lester Bangs) begins to describe his affinity for writing with “…sometimes I’d just stay up all night, just writing and writing…sometimes just dribble…but just to write.” I always loved how Phillip delivered this line…his tone really showed how much passion his character had for writing.
To get started, I need a block of time. Just the same with reading, having time and clearing the mind is fundamental for the best results of output (writing) and absorption (reading). This is very important to get into in order to achieve depth in work flow needed to be creative and wander in ideas. I work with my schedule to create a large section of time. In addition, I use methods like meditation and stretching to clear the mind and begin (not to mention an insanely large cup of coffee no matter what time in the day).
I start with an idea. Typically a thought or concept I previously have experienced or have knowledge on. Sometimes it might be a subject I am currently researching. Sourcing ideas requires a bit of silence and thinking mixed with a non stop pursuit. Keep reading.
You may not be as smart as the professors who write comprehensive papers and books, but you CAN match their curiosity and alacrity for learning.
With a yellow pad, I jot down bullet point notes or key concepts I want to write about pertaining to the subject matter. These points are to serve as a reference and guides me along the process. It's my start to the format.
My intro paragraph sets the tone and direction of where I am taking the reader. In this paragraph, I want to build interest right out of the gate with a quick story.
Then I just write. Even if I might not like a particular sentence I keep it in and continue in the rough draft. I write about each bullet point I have listed on the yellow pad, then organically through the process, I will almost always be able to expand on my thoughts as the deep work flow of writing is well set in.
After I have completed the rough draft, I go through and spell check and correct all errors. When I write, I don’t concern myself at the moment with spelling correctly as I do not want to disrupt my thought flow. There is no need to stop and correct spelling and risk forgetting your thoughts. It can easily be corrected later (as I am writing this, I’m estimating I already have 8–10 spelling errors within).
Then I read through the entire blog and look for any grammatical errors. Usually this will spark additional thoughts and ideas to which I will add into the blog.
Then I wait. The waiting period could be anywhere from a day to weeks. I’ll make it a point to research a bit more or think about more about the particular subject I am writing on. To source any additional inspiration. Remember, your writing never has to be a finished product. It can constantly evolve over time. Which is why we see 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on of book editions being released by authors in the subsequent years of a published work.
The waiting process is important because it allows you to come back to your writing after letting the thoughts and paper season in your mind a bit. The blog will look different than when you were in the creative flow of writing it. This is a good thing. It's as if you are tapping a second look or opinion within yourself to augment the writing work for a better sound or feel. I have some writings that years later I am amending sentences, full paragraphs or adding entire new sections.
Once I am satisfied with my writing, I publish it to Medium and it's complete for now. Often friends will ask me “Who reads your blogs?” For me, I could go either way if people read it or not. I write for me. It clears my head and takes my ideas and research to a permanent archive that I will have access to forever. This feels like a healthy deposit of wisdom and an arsenal of knowledge I can tap into when needed.
