Creating a Stop-loss on a Writing Project

I’m a bit of a perfectionist. Not in a crazy way, but I do like to have things done right. I remember when I was a kid, I had a Lego beach buggy. I lost one of the headlights and then didn’t play with it for a while because it was never the same lacking that inconsequential piece. I mean, look at all the cars on the highway missing a light, it sure doesn’t stop them from driving!

Obsessing over things being flawless is not an easy habit to break. Especially, with writing and editing. Anyone who’s ever submitted a piece on which they thought they had caught every mistake, only to discover that they misspelled their own name, knows what I’m talking about. A piece of writing can never be perfect- we all know that. Yet, how do can we ensure that we get the piece out to a client or boss in the appropriate amount of time while still maintaining a high level of quality?

Having (But not always using) a Large Vocab

I’ve never used a thesaurus much. When I have, I’ve often ended up with words that look great, but stick out like rusty nails because they can snag the reader right out of the story. Writing should not be about trying to impress the reader with how well-read I am. The reader cares about the the fiction characters or subject, not that I can use the word “basilica,” when I could have said “church.”

However, my current project is writing and editing practice questions for a curriculum on college entrance exams. Everyone who has taken these knows this means learning all obscure words to score well. So, I’ve been brushing up my dusty vocab skills, and finding that the meaning of some words I thought I knew were a little different.

Similarities Between Blog and Print Writing

Well, I still haven’t learned all there is to know about writing for the Internet. Big surprise, huh? Last week I wrote about the aspects of blog writing that struck me as quite different from its print cousin. But, writing is writing- be it a pithy greeting card or the next Batman thriller. Blog writing still must follow some of the same basic rules that apply to print writing.

Some Differences Between Blog and Print Writing

Truthfully, when I thought of starting a blog, it was only because many writing resources preach that every writers should have one. My heart wasn’t really in it at first. I do read and enjoy a lot of on-line writing- from travel to fixing bikes- but when I thought of nonfiction writing as a job, I thought print magazines.

Now that I’ve started posting, I’m finding this is sort of fun. I can explore topics and themes in a more free environment. Sending out queries to magazines from which I won’t hear anything for weeks or months limits what I can write about. Deciding to learn this on-line thing some more, I went back and looked at some of my favorite blogs like ZenHabits.net and Lifehacker.com. I wanted to see what made their sites attract hundreds of readers daily.

Here’s some things I found:

Writing With Substance

This morning, I was reading the 2002 edition of The Best American Travel Writing. One of my favorite pieces is “Visiting Norah” by Edward Hoagland, about traveling to Uganda to see a friend. Mr. Hoagland hears stories from survivors of the atrocities for which unfortunately Africa is always stylized in the media. However, he gives names to those dealing with the AIDS epidemic which turns people into living skeletons, to Rwandan genocide survivors who can’t sleep with anyone with black skin because of the memories, and citizens who escaped their cruel dictator Idi Amin’s blood-thirsty paranoia.

Writing While Distracted

Not having so much as even written in my journal for days, I know something is missing. Most often I’m not writing because something else is taking up my attention. In this case, it’s way more than one thing. And they’re all good too- can’t complain about a single one! But, a day only has so many hours and the brain only has so much attention and energy. So, here’s some tips to get some writing done even when you are distracted or blocked up.

Ready, Fire, Aim?

Well, this is the first post here. I really wanted to get at least this intro up last week. But, it’s summer now, and well, other fun things intruded. But, as the owner of the company I contract for said when I wanted to wait to make a new web site live- “Just get it up there!” I’m a bit of a perfectionist (but not obsessive- just look at the mess of my finances). I’d rather get the thing pristine before letting anyone see it.

He had a good point. Sometimes it’s better to just get moving. You’ll definitely be making corrections as you go- a little to the right, a lot to the left, Damn! Turn around- but keep moving and learn as you go. You might look like a drunken sailor weaving down the road, but at least you’re going somewhere.

So, in the spirit of making an ass out of myself. Please enjoy the following first post on a blog that will hopefully make better writers out of both of us!

Thanks for reading,
Rob