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Writing Tips: Letting Your Ideas Marinate
I want the idea to tap me on the shoulder and bother me to finish writing about it. It must grab my attention from the many drafts I have stashed away.
In the previous post I walked you through my Capture Process and how I use the “blue sky method” to grab all ideas as they come to me.
Check out this post: Writing Tips: Capturing Ideas
“Your pace is your pace. There’s no such thing as behind.”
– Emily P. Freeman
What does it mean to Marinate ideas?
When I get an idea I write it out, type it up, and get it captured. As much as I can. Then I walk away.
I let it sit until I feel inspired to do more with it.
I want the idea to tap me on the shoulder and bother me to finish writing about it. This is when topics come up again in conversation, in a book I am reading, or in my morning journaling. Full sentences will come flying at me and sometimes I can see the shape of the whole piece.
When I read over my notes and I have nothing to add then I know it needs to sit longer. Or maybe its just not the right time for that article. This is a hobby after all. I am not on anyone else’s time table. I am not on a schedule that I have to follow. I am writing for myself, at my own pace.
Forced writing does not work for me.
I learned this capture system idea from Mark Seaman. He is my real-life writing mentor and efficiency expert.
“…Capture, Organize, Develop, Share. This lifecycle of writing defines a standard workflow.”
“The exact shape of the publication is completely undefined at this point, but the desire is to avoid losing the insight altogether.”
Abundance vs. Scarcity
The mindset of abundance focuses on the belief that there are plenty of opportunities, resources, and possibilities available. Writers with an abundance mindset tend to see the world as full of potential and are more likely to approach challenges with optimism and confidence. They are open to sharing knowledge, collaborating with others, and taking risks, as they believe that there is enough for everyone.
On the other hand, the mindset of scarcity is rooted in the belief that resources are limited, opportunities are scarce, and there is not enough to go around. Individuals with a scarcity mindset tend to operate from a place of fear, constantly worrying about not having enough or missing out. This mindset can lead to feelings of competition, hoarding, and reluctance to take risks, as writers they may believe that success is only attainable for a select few.
I want to show up in this world, and especially as a writer, with an abundance mindset. I feel full of potential when I gather ideas in my drafts and let them marinate for the right time. I approach my writing work with optimism and confidence when I use my system.
After an idea marinates in my Evernote drafts and grabs my attention, then it is ready for the rest of my writing process.
My Next Steps:
Draft Work – When an idea grabs me or captures my attention I work on adding writing to it. I take it from a small list to full article draft. This looks like a partially finished product that still needs formatting.
Formatting – Once I have a finished draft in Evernote I have to move it to WordPress or Substack. This is when the formatting begins and I add in quote boxes, photos, headers…etc.
Finished Article – Now I have a finished article that I can either publish right away or put into my bank to publish at a later date. I like to keep at least 5 articles in my bank to publish from twice a week.
See these articles for more on my writing process: Writing articles on the blog.
So, for today, I will work on moving things forward. One inch at a time. I will lean into my routines that help me make space for meaningful words. I will show up.
I know that every idea I capture and have in my system will help me move forward in my writing goals. I enjoy being led by my writing and focusing on the topics that jump out at me. In this way my work feels organic and represents what I care about. My readers see that and respond.
I would love to hear about your writing process!
Please share in the comments. ⬇️
