WRITING

Thoughts on Writing Velocity

Write drunk, edit sober?

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Lately, my writing process seems to be:

😡 Write angry

🧘‍♂️ Edit calm

It came to mind as I remembered the quote often misattributed to Ernest Hemingway:

“Write drunk, edit sober”

He was actually talking about William Faulkner’s drinking habits.

However, the spirit of the statement holds true. I find that the words flow, and I’m inspired to write quickly when I’m upset about something.

The passion for an issue helps me get the thoughts out of my head. I’ve learned to unleash the words that reflect how I feel, even when they are entirely too inflammatory ever to publish.

Then, I let the draft sit overnight, or even for a few days. I return to edit it when I’m feeling calm and detached.

I tone down the anger. I remove profanity. I strive to make the article more useful and helpful instead of letting it become the ranting of a madman.

So, the next time you are feeling upset, frustrated, or angry about some issue, use that passion to fuel your writing. Immediately open your laptop and spill the words out onto the page.