Today, I'm talking about my writing process. How do my blog posts get from my head onto the internet? Well, most of the work comes before I actually sit down to write a post. I sometimes spend insane amounts of time thinking about a blog post before it actually ends up here for you all to read. The most recent example of this has been my Why I Named My Colon post. That one had been rolling around in my head since sometime in February. I'm not exactly sure why it took so long to actually write down. I think because it's such a funny thing to talk about, naming an organ, and yet it really had such a profound impact on my life. I wanted to make sure I was talking about it in a way that underscored the importance of this ultimately pretty silly thing that I did.
Other times, the reason it takes me so long is because I want to make absolutely sure I'm coming at the subject in the right way. This was the case with my post about pep talks. That post could have so easily been an accusation. "Why do you say these things?! I hate that! Stop it now!!" Not only is that completely off putting and unhelpful, it was not what I wanted to say at all. Part of talking about Crohn's is learning how to speak about the experience effectively, and I would never want to attack someone for trying to broach the subject. I may try to figure out a way to reframe some of their comments so that a more constructive conversation can take place, but no one wins if we just shut people down every time they say something we don't particularly care for.
After I've done the hard work of figuring out the topic and the language I want to use to speak about it, the actual writing is usually pretty smooth sailing. I mostly just write it, edit it, and post it. That seems a little anti-climactic, but the truth is that most of the really tough work takes place in my head before I even sit down at my computer. So when I do finally go to write a post, I just type it up. I mean, I'm not saying I don't edit. I absolutely edit. I love editing. But that's all relatively easy compared to the prep work.
As far as my actual writing style goes, I think that what I've said already pretty much covers it. I'm trying to find effective ways of talking about a really complicated subject. So, I try to make my writing as accessible and conversational as possible. I pretty much write the way I talk. Or, at least, the way I would talk if I could edit myself as a spoke. I'm just trying to have a conversation about something that doesn't normally get talked about, and I hope my writing reflects that.
Other times, the reason it takes me so long is because I want to make absolutely sure I'm coming at the subject in the right way. This was the case with my post about pep talks. That post could have so easily been an accusation. "Why do you say these things?! I hate that! Stop it now!!" Not only is that completely off putting and unhelpful, it was not what I wanted to say at all. Part of talking about Crohn's is learning how to speak about the experience effectively, and I would never want to attack someone for trying to broach the subject. I may try to figure out a way to reframe some of their comments so that a more constructive conversation can take place, but no one wins if we just shut people down every time they say something we don't particularly care for.
After I've done the hard work of figuring out the topic and the language I want to use to speak about it, the actual writing is usually pretty smooth sailing. I mostly just write it, edit it, and post it. That seems a little anti-climactic, but the truth is that most of the really tough work takes place in my head before I even sit down at my computer. So when I do finally go to write a post, I just type it up. I mean, I'm not saying I don't edit. I absolutely edit. I love editing. But that's all relatively easy compared to the prep work.
As far as my actual writing style goes, I think that what I've said already pretty much covers it. I'm trying to find effective ways of talking about a really complicated subject. So, I try to make my writing as accessible and conversational as possible. I pretty much write the way I talk. Or, at least, the way I would talk if I could edit myself as a spoke. I'm just trying to have a conversation about something that doesn't normally get talked about, and I hope my writing reflects that.
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