My Writing Process
Added 2023-10-16 06:37:51 +0000 UTCYesterday a reader asked me about my writing process, and I thought it worthwhile to add it here. Beginners to writing often share first drafts. This is not the product. First drafts are not for sharing. They're for hiding away in a drawer until you've crafted them.
While you want to write freely without self-editing for the initial write, the last sentence should rarely be the end. It should only be the beginning.
It's difficult to go back and craft something you've just written, so I give my writing some breathing space. Sometimes, I have to set it down for weeks or even months. Sometimes, a day does the trick. Then I can see it with fresh eyes and work out if it's worth repairing.
At least half of my writing just needs to be thrown away. If I think something is worth keeping, I do a line edit or two before I post. Then I proofread it. If it's a worthwhile piece, I also send it to another writer for feedback.
Fet has become an important part of my writing process because my followers are intelligent and critical. Sometimes people spot flaws. I correct them. Sometimes they express confusion with a particular sentence or idea, and I adjust to repair that.
I only publish around 10% of the content I write. The rest, I find unusable.
Writing is very much a way of life for me. I've learned what inspires me to write: Beach walks... visits... amazing writing... volunteering at the shelter... Those are my writing tools because they give me the state of mind I need to produce writing. I feel that living an inspired life as a writer is like living a healthy life as an athlete. Think of it like pushups and curls. You've got to be "fit." Fortunately, the things that make me "fit" also make me happy, so it's all good.
