The Life and Times of a Freelance Writer
Jennifer Escalona tells it like it is
Writers, What are your Writing Quirks?
In: Freelance Writing| Freelance Writing Questions| Writing Craft
20 Jul 2009Do you have any weird writing process quirks of foibles? I recently identified one of mine. It’s something I’ve been doing since high school, but hadn’t actually given much thought until recently. I generally write a whole article, brochure, paper, or whatnot but then need some time and distance before bringing myself to write the ending. Whether it’s the last sentence or the last paragraph, a good 80% of the time I just can’t write the closer at the same time as I write the body.
Now, at first I looked at this quirk as a productivity killer. If I wait for an interval to write the last paragraph, I end up opening each file three or more times (because proofreading and editing is a whole other can of worms) and getting into the writing mindset for even the shortest pieces at least twice. Plus, knowing that I have this quirk, I have to schedule extra time for some pieces.
Lately though, I’ve decided to embrace the quirk. First, I’ve noticed that pieces I dash off – yes, I am guilty once in awhile when a client needs something in a rush or when grad school is in session – just aren’t as good as the pieces I’ve let sit and stew for awhile. Second, the process just works for me. Instead of telling myself that I need to be like everyone else and write an article in one sitting, I’ve embraced my style. Whether it’s the last paragraph or the last sentence, I just need a little distance and thought before I can write a paragraph to tie everything together.
And in conclusion, who’s to say that “everyone else” writes articles in one sitting? I’m sure you guys have as many quirks, flaws and foibles as I do when it comes to your writing. Care to share?
(And no, I did not let this blog post sit and gel before writing the last paragraph. Let’s see if it suffers for that!)
- Tags: Freelance Writing, Writing Craft
Comment Form
About this blog
Your source for full-time and freelance writing, social media and community management jobs in the Atlanta area and beyond. Subscribe via email or RSS for unadvertised jobs as well as jobs from hidden (and not so hidden) places around the internet. Now with words of wisdom here and there from freelance writing and social media old salt Jennifer Escalona.
Photostream
Categories
- Business of Freelance Writing (1)
- Contests (2)
- Editing (1)
- Education (1)
- Ethics (5)
- Finding Freelance Writing Jobs (14)
- Freelance Writing (73)
- Freelance Writing Questions (5)
- Guerilla Marketing (1)
- Guest Bloggers (4)
- Links (2)
- Literary Pursuits (1)
- Miscellaneous (9)
- Morbid Monday (1)
- Reviews (5)
- Site Review (4)
- Social Media Jobs (4)
- SpecialtyBuzz (22)
- Uncategorized (4)
- Worthy Wednesday (13)
- Writing Craft (12)
- Writing Jobs (7)
- Writing Life (7)
- Jenn Escalona: Great resource, Reagan. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! [...]
- Reagan: A great source I like for business book summaries is [...]
- Jenn Escalona: Thanks for the kind compliment, Ashley! Let me know if you have any questions! [...]
- Ashley: I'm not sure how I missed this post because this blog is definitely in my RSS feed. Better late than [...]
- Jessica Bailey: Women Issues these days are mostly about women empowerment and equal rights among men.::` [...]
- A Few Tricky Ways to Stay Current on Business Books
- 13 eCards for Freelancers
- My Best Advice to New Freelance Writers
- Writing, Editing, Community Management and Social Media Jobs, Thursday 4/26/10
- Writing, Editing, Community Management and Social Media Jobs, Thursday 3/22/10
- Freelance Writing and Blogging Jobs, Thursday 3/11
- Writing, Editing and Social Media Jobs, Friday 3/5/10
- Writing, Editing and Social Media Jobs, Tuesday 3/2/10
- Writing and Social Media Jobs, Sunday 2/28/10
- Freelance Editor Strikes Back on Craigslist
10 Responses to Writers, What are your Writing Quirks?
Lynne B.
July 20th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I have a few:
Often, I’ll write an introduction that ends up being a little wordy, and I’ll cut the second paragraph and move it to the bottom as the conclusion.
Also, no matter how hard I try to “dash off,” I always end up self-editing and correcting as I go. Have been known to spend 30+ minutes on one SENTENCE. What can I say? I’m anal.
The other thing I have to do is something else entirely, e.g. play a game or do housework, while letting my brain write “in the background.” Some of my BEST phrasing comes from these times.
I wish I could just download my brain and then edit it. That would be so awesome.
Lynne B.´s last blog ..Reelin’ in the Years
Jenn Escalona
July 20th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
I knew I wasn’t the only one with quirks!
As for your brain writing in the background, I do that, too! My best stuff always comes either when I’m driving or washing dishes.
I read a psychological article about that one time. Apparently it’s a good idea to give ourselves a problem — it could be anything from a difficult sentence to something as deep as how to save your company from bankruptcy — and then stop thinking about it. Supposedly our subconscious continues to work on the problem and gives us the answer whenever we are in the correct, auto-pilot state of mind to let it surface.
You’ve known me a long while and probably know that I’m no fan of psychology, at least in the “therapy” sense, but I’ve had this happen to me way too many times to doubt it.
Catherine Tully
July 20th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
My husband told me that I move my head around a lot when I’m writing. This kind of horrified me…but I do it without realizing it….I think I’m gonna blog about that, now that I’m thinking of it……..
Oh. And I can’t listen to music at the same time I’m writing. Throws me off.
Yolander Prinzel
July 20th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
hahahahaha…Catherine’s comment just completely threw me off. I don’t even want to know what kind of subconscious body movements I have when I write.
I have the WORST habit of picking my split ends when I’m thinking. I usually wear my glasses when I’m writing, so I push the frames down and look up over them so I can focus close up, hold my hair in front of the laptop and just start looking through clumps of it. WTF? I’ve done it ever since Junior High. Also, I tend to write better from 10PM until about 2AM…which is not a schedule I think I want to keep…
Yolander Prinzel´s last blog ..6 Ways to Improve Your Work/Life Balance and Stay Fresh in Your Writing
Jenn Escalona
July 21st, 2009 at 8:40 am
Catherine – I would be horrified, too, but remember, your husband probably has your back. I got in a playground fight in 3rd grade because one of my friends said my mom had an eye twitch. Well, turns out, she does have one and I inherited it (but only when we’re really tired and angry. We’re not like…twitching mutants…) Plus, I can’t listen to music and write either. I envy those who can.
Yo – Now that’s just weird. (Kidding, kidding.)
Natalia Maldonado
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
I always get stuck on my first sentence, and when I get really tired of staring at the blank screen I just skip it and go back to it later. Also, if I’m really stuck on headlines or just ideas in general, I get off my desk, wash my face and brush my teeth. For some reason I’ve had some great light bulb moments as I brush my teeth.
Yolander, you made me laugh with the image of someone picking their split ends, staring at them over their glasses! I’ve been there…
Natalia Maldonado´s last blog ..Why the mark of great editing is no mark at all
Jenn Escalona
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 am
Natalia, I read on Lifehacker a few weeks ago about one small thing that can revitalize your whole day — changing your socks. I tried it, and it really works. Psychologically, when you have new socks on your feet, you feel like the day is fresh and new again. Who knew?
I get the light bulb moments while either driving, washing my hair or doing dishes. We’re all so alike, yet oh so different.
Yo
July 24th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
@Natalia, it’s a terrible habit, but sometimes it is so fulfilling to vanquish those weak hairs!
@Jenn, I’m going to replace socks with flip flops and see how that goes
Yo´s last blog ..When is Success Not Success? When it’s Ajar.
Bethany Feehery
July 28th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I am yet another one who gets her best ideas while driving or while waiting to fall asleep. I do worry about other drivers, though, when I get to work and I remember my story but not how I got there…
My oddest quirk, though, is that I hate what I handwrite. If I type it on the computer, I usually feel that its pretty good, but there’s just something about seeing my handwriting that throws me off. That’s sort of irritating because I usually don’t have a computer handy (such as when I pull into the parking lot at work). I lose alot of good stuff that way.
Jenn Escalona
July 29th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Bethany, I always hear people recommend that people in your situation get an electronic recorder or use their cell to record their ideas. Personally, though, I have a recorder for my journalism, and if I ever thought to record ideas on it, I doubt I would ever listen to them. (More likely, I would only hear the next time I was transcribing notes or an interview for a news story.) So here are my silly ideas 1.) Write with your opposite hand 2.) Wait until you get home and rope your husband into reading your handwritten notes, then transcribe 3.) Email yourself as soon as you get to work. I usually keep an unsent, draft email full of ideas. In fact, I had it open today looking at something. When I’ve had especially good ideas, I’ve even been known to text myself.
But anyway, this was a question blog and not an advice blog, so thanks for sharing your quirks!