Seven days: the creation of a post

Michelangelo‘s The Creation of Adam

Outline

  • Intro: how I got the idea for this post
  • Main thought: breaking the process down into several overlapping steps (add a visual)
  • Explain each step/phase in more detail
  • …

How it begins

I was sitting in front of the keyboard the other day, staring at the empty screen and struggling to come up with something to write about. As soon as an idea was starting to form, a voice in my head found problems with it, stopping me from writing.

Then I remembered not to worry, but to just start typing. And by doing that the core idea for this post revealed itself, namely to describe the path from idea creation to published piece.

One of them obviously finding the key topic to explore. Next could be just listing a few ideas (or drawing a mind map on the topic):

  • Putting words to paper (doesn’t matter which)
  • Finding the thought/observation/topic of the post (the spark)
  • Exploring/Sorting the topic/building a map
  • Building the logic of the argument/the storyline
  • Doing research
  • Remove the fluff to make the ideas clearer.
  • Rewrite for clarity (using more appropriate words, find analogies, use examples)
  • Fix grammar and spelling mistakes
  • Select a title (cover, packaging)
  • Publish

Let’s have a look at each one in turn.

Establishing the practice

To write, you have to write. To make music, you have to make music. What I mean: act first, then motivation and inspiration can hook onto something. Therefore you must establish a practice. Consistently set aside a few minutes (or hours, depending on your ambition) each day to write.

Starting the engine, the spark

You can’t just wait until inspiration strikes, you need to go. If you want to establish flow, you have to start. Just write )do!) something. Think of it as cleaning the pipe, oiling the engine, the warm-up, getting into position, … see freewriting or the reference to morning pages.

So this is what started the very post you are reading:

I don’t know what to write, but write I must. This is a short thing, yes, I know. There’s always a mix of actual writing, of structuring, of editing. bringin the logic out and of research - there’s a question where I don’t know the answer to…

Finding the idea to write about

This will come naturally if you a) keep a list with ideas and b) use the starting the engine approach.

Outlining

What about outlining? I didn‘t try this for this post, but could do it for the next post. Could also combine. Keep the outline at the top of the post, and freewrite at the bottom, updating the outline with new observations/ideas. Then convert the outline to a full post using the freewritten snippets.

Remove the fluff

The main theme of your post should stand out. Should have clear contrast with the background. Shouldn’t have (ausgefranste Kanten?). In a post on watering your plants you don’t want to hear about something else, what?

This means removing everything that distracts from the main idea. It does not mean sterile writing. You still can fill in interesting remarks and side notes as long as the core message keeps standing on it‘s own.

Add a visual

Strictly spoken a visual might not be necessary–the words should stand on their own. But the brain can much easier connect/associate and remember the content if it has something visual.

Rewrite for clarity

Sometimes called editing. (Or copy-editing? -> research) this is were you tighten up your copy. A program like iA Writer can be especially helpful as it can show you those filler words.

It’s also were you remove the weasel words.

Similarities to other creative processes

While thinking about this I noticed the similarity to composing music. First I doodle around until a riff, chord progression or similar catches my ear. Then I work on it.

Doing research

When you build your logic you might miss some connecting idea. Then you need to research the topic, I.e. looking things up, or asking an expert.

Polishing strokes

This is where you read the post out loud. This is extremely helpful, and is best done after a few days without interaction with the post (not how I do it at the moment)

Selecting the title

A good title is more important than you might think. It should raise interest, but not be click-baity. Here are some options for this post:

  • 5 things you need to know to write a post
  • The anatomy of post writing
  • The elements of post writing
  • 7 steps to write a post
  • How to write a post in seven days
  • How I write
  • Writing a post

Which of those titles do you like and why? Do they spark interest and give you an idea what it’s about?

Last pass: fixing typos

The temptation is very high to fix spelling mistakes or errors early on, but this should come at the very end. When you focus on these things in the beginning it is much harder to get the more essential information and the logical chain right.

Publish

Publishing a post is a forcing function. Especially if you have a deadline around. That’s the part that makes it count. Ship it. Show your work, etc. (References?)

Remark: This and the follow days of rewriting the post are hindered a bit by me being traveling and writing on the phone.