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To Write From the Heart or To Write From the Mind
519 sats \ 12 comments \ @BTCFC 18 Apr alter_native
Honestly, there has been a topic that I have been thinking about writing for the past couple of days, which I eventually will get to, it's just one of those I want to make sure to take the time to write out, and because of that there has been an element of procrastination and my mind delaying it because it wants to get it right, a bit of perfectionist tendencies. Thing is, the more I allow the mind to talk me out of writing it right here, right now, the more energy is pulled away from actually writing the darn thing. And I can feel the mind being uncomfortable over this topic I wish to write about because it knows it will require additional energy, time, and mind power in order to get it done compared to something shorter, and compared to those writing outbursts you get from time to time that come more so from the heart, in the moment expressions of what you feel.
I'm still finding my way in terms of learning to write regularly, and there is still much improvement to be made in order to better articulate and share my ideas, but nonetheless, it is something I enjoy and I strive to continue writing.
Do fellow stacker writers write more so in the moment as a form of immediate expression from the heart (to get something off the chest), or is there more of an organized and structured process to your writing, where the brain is much more involved? And if the answer is both, which form of writing do you prefer, and which form of writing (heart vs mind) is received better by the audience?
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20 sats \ 1 reply \ @cryotosensei 18 Apr
Since I post every day, I guess I write more in the moment. I feel like my day is incomplete when I haven’t posted something. So the habit of writing has been entrenched into my psyche. But having said that, I want to apply the low time preference thingy & write solidly about one paragraph every day so that these paragraphs will add up & blow people off their feet haha.
I find that when I use a more structured approach, sometimes I get accused of using ChatGPT (which I don’t!). So anyway, these days, I make sure to inject my personality into my writing & use some instances of casual language so that it comes across as more reader-friendly.
Glad that you’re posting daily!
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @BTCFC OP 21 Apr
Yes one of the goals of the writing for a month project is to make writing a part of habit for myself! Still in a phase where I have to motivate myself to get it done but with time the process will become more routine.
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10 sats \ 2 replies \ @Fabs 18 Apr
I usually start with writing a rough version (immediate expression), and refine it at a later moment (organized and structured).
I'm a little perfectionist, too, and I've found that writing a rough start helps me to create a first "overview" of the things I want to include, enabling me to add the things I've missed at that moment, or further expand on them.
Moreover, it allows me to review the initial organization and structuring of the contents, which, in turn, enables me to either further refine or overhaul it entirely.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @BTCFC OP 21 Apr
Love the advice! I will implement this as well as the "write drunk, edit sober" approach, although will apply it metaphorically since I don't really drink anymore.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs 21 Apr
🙂.
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10 sats \ 1 reply \ @ChrisS 18 Apr
I heard the advice once to write drunk and edit sober and while I don’t drink much anymore I think the general idea can be applied to answer your question. My advice would be to spend a lot of time writing from the heart, basically writing the first thing down that comes to your mind and not worrying about grammar, organization or structure. This can be very therapeutic but probably at lot of it you would not want to publish. But then the “edit sober” part meaning using the mind to take all the rambling and organize into something more organized and useful that you can post and publish for others.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @BTCFC OP 18 Apr
Wow thanks! I really like this advice!
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10 sats \ 0 replies \ @speakingyourtruth 18 Apr
I definitely write from my heart 90% of the time. It’s where the most creative and genuine part of myself comes out, and where the least amount of thinking is done. It’s where I can be myself, and not feel bad about it at all. There is a flow when my writing comes from within, which I think sounds a bit like reading a character’s pov from a book (as you well know already, my love). It’s like organized chaos when my voice comes out in the words.
Then there is the occasional business or formal writing stuff, which is completely centered around your mind at which you “have” to articulate yourself correctly so you don’t sound stupid.
This is where that structure and organized thinking really comes into play. To be fair, most of the its boring as hell and makes me feel “fake” in a way. But then there are other forms of writing that involve formal research papers, essays, etc. that also sound boring, but depending on what it is for, can be enjoyable or a dread to write. It really depends.
As for being received by audiences, creative writing wins in my opinion. 👌🏼
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @FallingD02 21 Apr
I usually write when the moment catches me and the words flow, it is something spontaneous and sporadic, it doesn't happen often. So sometimes I try to brainstorm ideas to write but nothing comes out. Haha😅 It's very funny but I still don't have the ability to turn the skill on and off as I please, so I work daily to improve. SN is the most fascinating thing that has happened to me so I can practice and try to master the art of writing frequently.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @BTCFC OP 21 Apr
I'm on the same boat! This is mainly the reason why I have forced myself to write for a month straight to improve on consistently writing and habituating it.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @DesertDave 20 Apr
I have been dealing with something similar. I have decided that for me, from the heart, when I feel the passion is the way for me. I see so many amazing posts here that people obviously put a lot of intellectual energy into. That just doesn't work for me. I like short and sweet. Maybe isn't the best for this platform. But that is how I work best. I am an improviser.
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110 sats \ 0 replies \ @BTCFC OP 21 Apr
I think there is just as much value to something short and sweet and from the heart, compared to something more intellectually written that is longer form. At the moment I tend to write more so off the top of my head and like you improvise, but I do want to get better at writing more "professionally" I guess, putting in time to do proper research and presenting it in a more formal article format. But for now just to get the hang of writing consistently, most of what I write will probably be more heart, in the moment driven.
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