A Strategy for Easing Friction in Article Writing
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Understanding Writing Momentum
Have you ever felt that some articles effortlessly come together, while others seem to drag on forever? After years of blogging, I've recently uncovered the factors that lead to this difference and how they can enhance the creative process.
For me, articles that flow smoothly often recount personal experiences, categorized as "this happened to me." In contrast, opinion pieces that express my views on various topics typically take much longer to compose.
Relating Personal Experiences
The ease of writing personal stories stems from their completeness. Whether I’m sharing a humorous tale, a touching experience, or a significant lesson learned, these narratives require minimal editing to achieve the desired result.
When I dictate the initial draft using my iPhone, I narrate the events exactly as they occurred, breaking the story into its key moments as if I were sharing it with a friend. Once the first draft is on my computer, I can refine it—highlighting essential elements while minimizing or removing those that detract from the narrative flow.
Crafting Opinion Pieces
Opinion articles, in contrast, require a more careful approach. I feel a sense of responsibility not to appear foolish while expressing my views publicly. Consequently, these pieces often demand extensive research, a logical structure, critical analysis, and factual support for my arguments. I aim for my articles to be solid and defensible, provoking thought without causing offense, necessitating a careful review to ensure sensitivity and empathy.
Leveraging the Distinction
Understanding the distinction between these types of writing can be beneficial. When writing feels sluggish but creativity is still alive, shifting to a more familiar story type can help maintain momentum.
For some, essays may be easier than fiction; for others, poetry may flow more naturally than essays. This kind of strategic shift can prevent the frustration that leads to abandoning the writing process. It’s important to recognize that there’s no rule requiring us to stick with a difficult piece until completion. We can allow ourselves to pivot to a simpler task, maintaining the discipline to return to the more challenging piece once our momentum is restored.
By identifying which stories can be drafted more swiftly versus those that require extra attention, writers can manage their energy effectively throughout a writing session. When we have the flexibility to select our writing tasks, switching gears during a stall allows us to continue progressing toward our writing goals—albeit in a different manner than originally intended.
Additional Writing Insights
This video, "How Great Leaders Use Friction to Make Things Easier," discusses how overcoming friction can lead to more efficient processes in various contexts, including writing.
In "How I'm Using Vim for Everyday Writing," the creator shares practical tips on utilizing Vim to enhance productivity and streamline the writing process.