Three Stages of Writing | Friday Flickr Fix | 06.06.08

Years ago en route to a client meeting I asked my then colleague, a hack turned flack, if writing ever gets any easier.

My heart sank when this ex-journo told me writing is the hardest thing he does every day. But his point was writing is a labor of love. Your writing should always be improving and evolving. If it get’s too easy, you’re not pushing yourself to do your best work.

In hindsight, I think my writing has gone through at least three stages of evolution since entering the work force.

Unclear: Right out of school, my editors/my editing saved my ass. Let’s say I wrote something 50 words in length. Those 50 words probably didn’t communicate as simply and clearly as they could. I’d make associations or assertions that were unclear to the reader, with little transition…basically content that made more sense to me than my readers.

Inefficient: My issues with clarity fixed themselves over time. The writing was doing its job. But I was doing more with more. It took me 100 words to get the point across instead of 50 words. And editors/my editing still saved my ass.

Ever-Evolving: Today, thanks to blogging and work experience, those 100 words are back down to 50 words. My word choice is more muscular as I write more clearly and concisely. Editors/my edits still save my ass, but the challenge is more about what I write instead of how I write.

Writing is a labor of love. What are some of YOUR challenges and solutions to writing? Leave a comment with everything from how you deal with writer’s block, writing exercises and grammar pet peeves to your process and “secret-weapon” reference sites.

I’ll compile the responses into a follow-up post. Or did I just doom myself by ASKING for comments? You tell me – in 50 words or less.

From where I sit uploaded by Olivander
tags | public relations | PR | writing

Comments

[Lally]

A hundred words you can have now. Fifty? That'll take some time.

[Sarah Morgan]

There are some great quotes about brevity here: http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=84
I actually find Twitter really helpful in practicing saying what I mean more concisely. But there's nothing like a great editor. And there's NOTHING like self-editing with just a red pen. You can always get tighter.
(this is 49 words :) )

[Kevin Dugan]

Lally and Sarah bring to mind a quote my 7-year old daughter taught me. "Girls rule. Boys drool."

Thanks for the add Sarah. And I agree about Twitter and editing.

[Wendy Bigham]

It helps me to keep writing when I have the block. Write anything: an e-mail, a comment, a list of things to do, anything to take my mind off the pressure. I try to take no longer than a 15 to 30- minute break, especially when I'm on deadline. And it's easier when I go back to the project.

I was working with a young, southern privileged writer a few months ago and she said she was having one of those "I can't write days," and was sorry her story wasn't done yet. And we were on deadline. Editors have no sympathy when you go that route.And bosses will fire you.

[Kevin Dugan]

Wendy - That makes good sense...writing through the block vs. blowing the deadline. :-)

[Kami Huyse]

What saved me in writing is knowing that it doesn't all have to be perfect as it comes out. Write the premise first, then the arguments, and finish with a killer lead.

[Kevin Dugan]

Kami - Great point...rough drafts rule!

[David Weiner, PR Newswire]

Kevin,

I feel your phases.

One of my favorite exercises in poetry was taking a poem (or several) from your favorite poet and trying to emulate the style or form ... though this would be very difficult to replicate with bloggers, it works for poets, lyricists and maybe even politicians!

[Sean Williams]

Technique!

Inspiration is transitory and subject to distractions. Technique is applying process and grinding out copy. I revisit my objectives for the piece and break things into chunks: articulate message, rephrase message, support message with examples, add human voice. And, I write the nut graf first (in a news-type story), not the lede. I'm also not afraid to recast (more of an editing discipline) to give my creative side a short rest.

I've honed the technique that helps me avoid block and deal with it when it comes.

[Online Publicity Journal]

Writers block = Horrible!
We have no set tricks per se except to write a little and come back later to write some more - build on what you have written? No use in sitting there staring at a screen for hours scratching your head right?

[Ashley]

My biggest challenge in writing is getting a piece started. I often find myself staring at a blank screen while everything I want to say stays a jumbled mess in my head.

What usually helps me is to just start typing as if I were just having a casual conversation with someone. I write as if I were explaining the topic to a friend. It is easy to go back and reword the writing in a more formal manner, and at least the idea is out and on paper!

[Kestutis Gecas]

I like writing, but in my native - Lithuanian :). Good text is the same as good music, emotional and with rythm. Text must to leave something in reader's heart.

[Kevin Dugan]

Kestutis - I like the comparison of words and music. Inspirational.

And I agree with everyone that it seems the best way to do it is just get started and not worry about it being perfect.

Sean - I like the idea of process. My concern is that my writing will become too formulaic. This happened to me after writing b to b case histories for several years in a row. But process will not let you down.

David - I understand what you're pointing out and it's an interesting idea. My only concern there is I will pay too much HOMAGE and it might border on plagirism...it's a fear more than a rational concern.