Love your process, Chris. Great advice. For me, I put all my ideas in a Google Doc, with the list of titles in the nav pane, and then pick one to work on or add one for the future. I also invested in a tri-fold keyboard for my iPhone (like a $40 Bluetooth thing), so on nights when I call an audible and take myself to dinner, I can work on a piece (same when a friend is running late and I'm early). This makes the process fun, and I can work on it from anywhere (including work...shhhhhh). But that's the thing: we have to enjoy our process. Otherwise, what's the point? Looking forward to hearing you tomorrow. xo
It’s just a Bluetooth keyboard so, technically, they should all work on iPhones, but we tend to be fancy and use them with iPads instead. I'm just not that fancy. LOL. xo
I particularly resonated with your thoughts on a consistent writing schedule. Your journey is indeed a testament to the transformative power of a consistent writing process.
All of the effort you put in shines through so much in your writing, Chris. You reminded me to get back into the content calendar mode too. I work for a planner company, so at the start of 2023 I was using one of our planners to write out topics for the week, but that only lasted a few months before I fell out of the routine. Currently my topics are just a list on my phone, but I think keeping them in a calendar again will help keep me more organized. You and Sandra both have mentioned you schedule your posts ahead of time too. I've done that a couple of times, but would be nice to incorporate that more regularly too since this last half of the year became completely unmanageable time and energy-wise. Thanks for giving us some great insight into how the Hello, Adversity cheese gets made every week :)
I adored this peek into your creative process. And I especially appreciate that it includes self-doubt and resistance—what roundup of anyone’s writing process would be accurate or complete without it?!
Such a great post, Chris - I've learned a lot from reading about your process.
"The primordial ooze starts to take shape" is a fabulous moment!
The parts I most enjoy about my own process are getting my initial thoughts down, and then working on editing my draft. Everything between those two points is by far less fun - the (comparative, for I still like it) nitty gritty of the writing doesn't bring me nearly so much joy as the refining process does. 🤣
I think most non writers think of writing romantically and not as a process; which it is. Chris does a fine job of creating a picture of process and sometimes tedium. I agree we all have stories and have the capability of putting those thoughts into words. For all who may want to understand this process better, check out the book, Bird by Bird.
Love your process, Chris. Great advice. For me, I put all my ideas in a Google Doc, with the list of titles in the nav pane, and then pick one to work on or add one for the future. I also invested in a tri-fold keyboard for my iPhone (like a $40 Bluetooth thing), so on nights when I call an audible and take myself to dinner, I can work on a piece (same when a friend is running late and I'm early). This makes the process fun, and I can work on it from anywhere (including work...shhhhhh). But that's the thing: we have to enjoy our process. Otherwise, what's the point? Looking forward to hearing you tomorrow. xo
Thanks Sandra! Whoa, I didn't know iphone keyboards even existed!
It’s just a Bluetooth keyboard so, technically, they should all work on iPhones, but we tend to be fancy and use them with iPads instead. I'm just not that fancy. LOL. xo
I absolutely love your tri-fold Bluetooth keyboard hack!!
Game. Changer. xo
I particularly resonated with your thoughts on a consistent writing schedule. Your journey is indeed a testament to the transformative power of a consistent writing process.
Thanks Winston!
All of the effort you put in shines through so much in your writing, Chris. You reminded me to get back into the content calendar mode too. I work for a planner company, so at the start of 2023 I was using one of our planners to write out topics for the week, but that only lasted a few months before I fell out of the routine. Currently my topics are just a list on my phone, but I think keeping them in a calendar again will help keep me more organized. You and Sandra both have mentioned you schedule your posts ahead of time too. I've done that a couple of times, but would be nice to incorporate that more regularly too since this last half of the year became completely unmanageable time and energy-wise. Thanks for giving us some great insight into how the Hello, Adversity cheese gets made every week :)
Thanks Jackie! I'd say Sandra is even more diligent than I am - she WRITES her posts ahead of time! I definitely am not that good.
I adored this peek into your creative process. And I especially appreciate that it includes self-doubt and resistance—what roundup of anyone’s writing process would be accurate or complete without it?!
That Derek Sivers quote is gold.
Thanks Maddie!
Such a great post, Chris - I've learned a lot from reading about your process.
"The primordial ooze starts to take shape" is a fabulous moment!
The parts I most enjoy about my own process are getting my initial thoughts down, and then working on editing my draft. Everything between those two points is by far less fun - the (comparative, for I still like it) nitty gritty of the writing doesn't bring me nearly so much joy as the refining process does. 🤣
Thanks Rebecca! I am growing to like the refining. I used to hate it but now I appreciate the effort involved.
I think most non writers think of writing romantically and not as a process; which it is. Chris does a fine job of creating a picture of process and sometimes tedium. I agree we all have stories and have the capability of putting those thoughts into words. For all who may want to understand this process better, check out the book, Bird by Bird.
Thanks Paul, and thanks for the book suggestion!