Blogging - Finding The Flow

I know, right? If you’ve read the other posts in this series so far, you’ll be thinking: For real? No structure? he writes like a drunk wandering home from the pub? Nah, there MUST be a formula…

Nope. 

No formula. I do one thing. And that’s it. I write a one sentence. I open my editor (iA Writer if that sort of thing interests you) and write one sentence. 

Here’s what it was for this piece:

Write a post about the non-structural way of blogging. 

That was it. What that does is shove the topic front and centre in my mind. Then, I’m free to waffle, scream, rant and shout any way that I want. As long as it hits the mark. 

I write the opening par. To get the main point down. And that usually opens the floodgates. After that? It comes out. My mind “looks” at that first sentence. And for the next 30 minutes or so, that’s what I’m writing. 

Structure? When I’m editing, I’ll decide whether the piece flows right. As long as it does, it gets published (After the typos get fixed). Flow, you see, folks. 

FLOW.

Like a river. a fast-flowing one. That’s how I write. I let the ideas become boats. little buggers. That can sail down a fast stream. Nothing fancy. Paper boats, even. That’d to it. Like the ones we used to make to sail down the gutters after heavy rainfall. 

And I’ll wager when you try to write in a formulaic style? What you get is writing that sounds like you were sitting on a sharp object. It’ll be precise. It’ll be tight and refined. And boring as fuck. 

FLOW.

Give yourself permission to let go. It’s like wearing shorts on a winter day. Fuck conventions. Balls to normal. If it feels good when you’re writing it? It’ll be more interesting than that stiff-lipped shite you did before. 

How do I know when to stop? 

Easy. 

When I’ve said what was in my mind to say. Remember the sentence at the start? Did you write about that? Did you say what you wanted to say? 

Good. Stop. 

Or, carry on until there’s nothing else. For now. 

Right, I’m done.