wondering is writing too

calling your creativity names isn't helping

"I spend too much time wondering," my client said, hands to the sides of her head in mock punching.

"Do you?" I said. And probing compassionately, "Do you, really?"

Wondering is a critical ingredient in revision. When we wonder, muse, ponder, review, consider…we are applying a bespoke filter to the content on the page.

“I wonder” means "does this work" and “does this say what I want it to?”

After the raw content dump, and transcription (as I mention in my last Substack) there is revision…a glorious process during which we apply filters created in the cellars of our minds’ eye, that once applied, leaves a remainder that is our art.

Wondering is writing too.

Try this. When you sit down to a page and you feel overwhelm settle in your lap like an anvil, try coming up with a SINGLE question that you will answer this time.

One question, that is the tinted filter for today’s pass. Come up with a question, choose your colour.

Write it at the top of the page, and then press Save As and record the new date in your filename (because…read about organizing in my last post).

You don’t have to consider the long game— the writing coach, agent, publisher or reader….not in this first stage of revision. Answer one question with your kind revision hat on.

Then walk away for today. Sale and Service, are what I call the prose and admin functions of writing. You’ve done your prose work for today. Now move to the admin stuff…wanna know what I mean.?

Read my next post.

Next time to open your document, ask another question.

Wondering a fresh thing out loud is what writing really is. Wonder on.

Photo by Joseph Greve on Unsplash