The other day I was asked to participate in a “How I Write” blogroll by my friend Tony from A Way With Words. He wrote a great post called “Brewing a Fine Story: My Writing Process,” and he nominated me to keep the blogroll rolling. Unfortunately, Tony overestimates my ability to keep my word, and I haven’t had any time to appropriately nominate any other writers. Nevertheless, I have highlighted a few writers (at the bottom) without their foreknowledge. Whether they keep this going will be up to them.

SIDE NOTE: Check out their blogs if you can.

In Tony’s blog, I thought he hit the writing process on the head: “1. Read 2. Steal. 3. Repeat.” I’m tempted to just stop there. But I won’t because research suggests you’re willing to read up to 500 words. So I’m going to write 600 and cut 100 out. I’m getting ahead of myself.

Kevin’s Awesome Writing Knowhow Process for Blog Domination

When it comes to short story and fiction, I’m still very much finding my groove. And let’s be honest, no one wants to see my groove. Below is an ordered list that reflects my nonfiction writing process.

For my blog, there are two writing tracks: a) Inspired b) Needful

Inspired

1. An idea hits me from one of many sources (e.g., my wife’s wisdom, a recent life experience, any time I’m in church, a bat in my bedroom)

2. If I can’t write it in the moment, I’ll put a note in my iPhone Notes app

3. As soon as I can, I’ll jump on the computer at home and write directly in to WordPress

4. Though I wish I could say I wrote without stopping and saved the editing for the second draft, I just simply don’t. I go line by line. It takes forever. However, if I’m inspired, I usually can’t stop writing, and the best stuff rarely requires much tinkering.

5. There’s this “Publish” button on WordPress and I hate it. I hate it, hate it, hate it. It’s all big and blue and dumb. Well, anyway, it’s tempting to publish immediately. I try to put at least one day of distance before I post. Fresh eyes are the best editing tool. #Willpower

SIDE NOTE: I do Kev Yoga while I’m waiting.

6. Return to the draft and remove most of the “that”s and “just”s

7. Remove the heavy handed angst and sarcasm

8. Reorder my paragraphs (you would be surprised how much this helps clarify a message)

9. Hit publish

10. Eat a sour neon gummy worm

Needful

1. Realize that it’s been three to five days since I last posted

2. Do some Kev Yoga to get the ol’ brain juices flowing

3. Be mindful of what is happening in the world. No need to write a coffee/How I Met Your Mother mash-up post during a public shooting or something.

4. Look at previous unexplored ideas or unfinished posts

5. Write a coffee/How I Met Your Mother mash-up post anyways

6. Repeat 6-10 of Inspired list.

One final thing. To be honest, a big part of my writing is the aesthetics. My blog has to look nice. This means I spend extra time keeping paragraphs pretty, juxtaposing single sentences properly, and placing pictures and SIDE NOTES in ways that prompt people to keep reading.

Does it always work? Well, you made it here, didn’t you?

Other Writers Who Should Write About Their Writing Processes

Abby from http://livelovelaughdancepray.wordpress.com/

Mike from http://mikeforchrist.com/

Mike from http://pastormikesmusings.com/

Thanks for reading! What is your writing process? 

Oh yeah! If all else fails, get a writing hat.

[Top Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caribb/4310691752/]