Harun despairs.
He’s keen to become a blogger.
He loves writing.
But sometimes he hates writing.
The whole process of writing a blog post feels complicated, muddled up, and it’s sooo frustrating. ARGH.
Is there an easier way to write?
Well, yes, to some extent.
Of course, creating something new is often a messy process.
However, learning how to adopt two different roles can help streamline your writing process and take away some frustrations.
Shall I explain?
The creator vs. the editor
In an episode of the documentary Abstract, Christoph Niemann, an illustrator and animator, talks about being both a creator and an editor:
I need to be in control and I need to have a clear sense of where I am going and why something’s working and not working. On the other hand I’ve also realized that being more free-spirited is necessary. I’ve found that I need to develop these two personas separately. Be a much more ruthless editor and be a much more careless artist. This I find physically exhausting but there’s good stuff happening there.
So, Niemann talks about two creative roles:
- The free-spirited creator or careless artist who comes up with thousand different ideas, makes surprising connections, and dreams up metaphors and stories.
- The ruthless editor who pares down an idea to its essence and polishes any work close to perfection.
Any illustrator, writer, or other artist will have to juggle these two roles—be a creator AND an editor. This juggling act is one of the reasons why the creative process can feel demanding.
How to juggle your two roles
In his book Hyperfocus, Chris Bailey describes two types of focus: Hyperfocus and scatterfocus.
Hyperfocus means giving all your attention to one specific task. For instance, eliminating typos and grammar mistakes is a focused task, and the better we focus, the easier it is to spot typos and the quicker we can finish proofreading.
But being focused can lead to tunnel vision.
To be a creator and create something new, we also need what Bailey calls scatterfocus. Scatterfocus is when we intentionally let our minds wander to let creativity thrive and come up with fresh insights.
While most productivity advice tells us how to focus better, Bailey found that learning how to engage in scatterfocus had a big impact on his productivity and creativity.
I like how Alison Gopnik, a professor in cognitive science, compares the two types of attention to spotlights and lanterns.
A spotlight highlights just one thing, perhaps one picture in a room. So, a spotlight blurs distractions and allows you to study that one picture in detail. Hyperfocus is like a spotlight.
In contrast, scatterfocus is like a lantern. A lantern illuminates the whole room, all around you. You notice where the table is, how many chairs are around it, and how many people are present. You might even see there are 7 pictures on the walls and several plants on the windowsill.
As a writer, you need to be both a lantern and a spotlight. You need to see the big picture and the detail. You need to associate freely and think linearly. You need to be free-spirited and ruthless. You can’t do both at the same time, so you need to keep switching.
The lantern: How to let your mind wander to boost creativity
Bailey suggests 3 types of lantern mode:
- Capture mode: This is like a brainstorming session for blog post ideas. You intentionally let your mind roam freely and capture any ideas that come up.
- Problem-crunching mode: This is when you hold a problem loosely in your mind and view it from different perspectives.
- Habitual mode: This is when you do a simple task like washing the dishes, and you let thoughts and ideas bubble up.
Bailey suggests that the last mode is often most powerful to boost creativity.
In her book A Mind for Numbers, Barbara Oakley suggests a two-step approach to problem solving. First, do some focused thinking, next let go and engage in what she calls diffuse-mode thinking, which is similar to lantern mode or scatterfocus.
For instance, you may pick an idea for a blog post and write an initial outline. Then you let go. Oakley suggests taking a shower, doing sports, drawing, painting, or listening to music without words. Or even better: Sleep on it! While asleep, your mind continues processing ideas that you were considering at daytime.
I sometimes read a series of headlines before bedtime, and when I wake up, a better headline pops into my mind. Or I’ve written a quick outline the previous day, and when I wake up, I’m writing a draft blog post in my mind.
Or sometimes, I hit a problem in a blog post—the structure isn’t working. I try to pinpoint why the blog post feels wonky, and then I let go. I might solve the issue while walking in the woods or I know what to do when I wake up the next day.
Lantern mode means being open-minded and allowing inspiration in from anywhere. It’s a relaxed state of mind and it helps you see how to connect different ideas and put them together in one blog post. The lantern mode helps you become a more careless creator, a free-spirited artist.
The spotlight: How to focus to boost productivity
Oakley suggests that focused thinking is rational, sequential, and analytical. It also tends to be detail oriented. We choose what’s important to us, set a goal, and then give a task our full attention.
To help get focused, I find it useful to set a timer. I don’t allow myself to do anything else but the task I’ve set. If my mind wanders off, I refocus until the time is up.
When I’m tired, I set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes. When I feel energetic, I set the timer for 25 minutes, then take a short break before setting the timer again.
Bailey gives a few other suggestions for entering a focused state including: Cut distractions in your environment—e.g. put your phone outside the room, switch off notifications, consume some caffeine (if it’s not too late to do so), and remind yourself why an activity is important to you.
A focused state helps you spot the issues in a blog post. You can see what’s redundant, what’s missing, and how to polish your writing.
Be a creator and editor
I like how Jerry Seinfeld talks about juggling the creator and editor roles.
When in creator mode, Seinfeld suggests treating “your brain like a toddler. It’s just all nurturing and loving and supportiveness.” Coax yourself gently to get your thoughts on paper, and don’t share it with anyone else, at least not for a day. As Gopnik suggests, toddlers are good at being open-minded and getting inspired by anything they notice.
In contrast, when reviewing your work, Seinfeld suggests being “hard-ass.” You have to switch off your toddler-creator mode because you need to be strict with yourself, and see where you can improve. As Seinfeld suggests, be a “ball-busting son of a bitch” and tell yourself what’s not good enough, what needs to be redone, and what needs to be thrown away. Your creator brain is too fragile to cope with such criticism, so you need to play your other role—the role of the ruthless editor.
This switching between the roles of creator and editor—between carelessness and ruthlessness—isn’t always simple. Some people like switching within one writing session. I find it easier to be a careless creator one day, and a ruthless editor next. I’m still surprised sometimes how much more productive and creative I am by spreading the work of writing one blog post over more days.
And you?
How to be a joyful writer
I can’t tell you writing is easy.
But when you learn to switch between the two roles, writing becomes more joyful.
When in creator mode, connect with your free-spirited self and be open-minded like a lantern. Welcome inspiration from anywhere and embrace the unknown that each blank sheet of paper offers. Learn to be gentle with yourself.
When in editor mode, connect with your ruthless self and be focused like a spotlight. Welcome any critical comments (from yourself or others), and face up to the challenge of making each piece of writing better.
Happy writing, my friend.
Books mentioned in this post:
- A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra) by Barbara Oakley (highly recommended)
- Hyperfocus: How to Manage Your Attention in a World of Distraction by Chris Bailey (highly recommended)
Recommended reading on creative productivity
A 5-step plan for writing fresh content every week
How to get into your writing zone
How to be a prolific writer: 6 stubborn myths quashed by facts
Hi Henneke,
Great essay, thanks for sharing. The concept of the two mindsets makes a lot of sense to me. I try to leave a day before editing as it gives me ample time to shift to the ‘editor’ mindset.
I’ve found that Seinfield has a lot of wisdom about the creative process. I’ve also benefited from Seinfeld’s ‘don’t break the chain’ productivity method.
Thanks,
Aneesh.
Yes, don’t break the chain is a great suggestion from Seinfeld. Thank you for mentioning it.
I’ve found that “don’t break the chain” works very motivating for a lot of people but it demotivates some as it can make it much harder to get back into a habit after breaking the chain. We all have to figure out what works for us, and it’s great that you found something that works for you!
Thanks so much for stopping by to add your thoughts, Aneesh.
Hi Henneke,
Loved the concept of hyperfocus vs scatterfocus. I find myself in the latter mode more than I should (considering the miniscule amount of writing I am able to do each week – I am discounting client work) but then as you pointed out, we need to enjoy the whole process.
But now that I have a term for it, I will try to have something in between. What do you say – would that help in getting more blogs out?
Thanks for the awesome essay,
Thanks,
Shweta
Hi Shweta,
Client work counts, too! It’s all writing, but I know writing for ourselves feels different and it can be hard to make time.
I don’t know how you’re planning your work but even 10 or 20 minutes each day writing for yourself can make a difference. You may even want to prioritize your own work above client work—write for your own blog first thing. Short periods of focus with some time for scatterfocus in between can make a big difference.
Awesome, thanks! 😉
Thank you, Ana!
Great essay! I love editing. Sometimes I wonder if the entire reason I write is so I have something to edit!
As I was reading, here, my mind kept going to what I wrote last night—I truly had trouble concentrating on the exact words, here, realizing the ideas you were proposing are a lot how I work, and even a lot how you’ve suggested, before.
I think I need to go edit and come back and read again. Haha!
And, as always, I marvel at your perfect English usage. <3
I think this is me, too: “Sometimes I wonder if the entire reason I write is so I have something to edit!”
So well put!
Thank you, Katharine.
Do you ever start tackling a project and/or blog post with the mind mapping approach? Writing down ideas and phrases in bubbles starting with a central theme. Connecting them with lines to try to “let the creative horses run free” a bit before drilling down the troops to a more perfect formation?
Oh, great post by the way.
Thanks
I’ve used mindmapping for bigger projects (books, courses) but didn’t find it useful for blog posts. It feels to me that mindmapping gives me too many ideas and it creates unwieldy blog posts. This doesn’t mean you can’t use a mindmap for a blog post; others may find it useful.
I have used mindmapping also for mapping out my blog content and looking at the gaps and generating ideas for what else I can write about.
It is like sitting in 2 different chairs.
Yes!
Thanks for reminding me about how important each mode is to my writing. I find that listening to classical music helps put me into lantern mode. And like you, setting a timer puts me into spotlight mode.
I’m curious whether each of us has a default mode. For instance, when I read, I can spot a grammatical or spelling mistake a mile away (that doesn’t mean I don’t make them). They jump off the page at me. It’s frustrating because this habit of mine interrupts the flow of my reading. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve reported errors to Amazon while reading on my Kindle.
On the other hand, I have a difficult time shutting down my spotlight mode so I can let my creative juices flow. I have to tell my editor to, “shut up, be patient, you’ll get your chance later.”
Thanks for putting so much thought and effort into this very useful and thought provoking post.
I don’t know for sure but it seems to me that most people have a preference for being a creator vs. an editor. My preference is for editing, too. Like you, I spot spelling mistakes in many many books (although I’m too lazy to report it).
With practice, I’ve found it becomes easier to shut down my inner editor and let my creative juices flow. I have to be gentle yet firm. There was also a time when I could be most creative when I was still a little groggy from sleep. I think my inner editor just wakes up a bit later!
It’s so interesting how we all find different ways to get around the stumbling blocks in the writing process. Thank you for sharing your experience, Bill.
I find editing is much easier than writing that wretched first draft. Thanks for the reminder to wear both hats – creator and editor – just not at the same time. I find the ‘editor’ will try to take over way too soon and squelch the creative process. But being aware of my tendency to edit too soon helps a bunch. Thanks, Henneke, for your thoughtful article!
I’m with you, James. I need to switch off my inner editor (and critic!) and coax my inner toddler gently yet firmly to get that first draft done.
Thank you for stopping by!
I have the same feelings as James on this topic. Great reminder for us. Thanks to you both engaging me to think about my creative lantern shine more, despite my inner critic’s shouting!
I love how you phrased that: Let your creative lantern shine!
This is a great way to get into the habit of writing.
The Lantern Mode where the mind wanders aimlessly to gather stuffs for writing.
The hyper focus mode allows the writing story to be brought out to the audience in a way that produces the desired impact.
I am glad you enjoyed it, Mohtajullah. Thank you for stopping by.
Hi Henneke, I love, love this post! We do have to put on different “hats” when blogging. And the same goes for our writing. Most of us love to create but not edit. I never thought of it this way, but most of the time I do come up with ideas, get creative and then go about the editing. However, staying focused is another story!
Getting the focus is key I believe to accomplishing great blog posts Henneke. Thanks for sharing the process with us here.
I actually prefer editing to creating. I don’t know which preference is more common. It’d be interesting to find out!
Thank you for stopping by again, Lisa. I appreciate it!
Hi Henneke,
Thank you for the insightful post.
The use of a timer to focus on the task at hand seems to be a common practice among writers.
Famous copywriter Eugen Schwartz worked in blocks of 33 minutes.
Anthony Trollope, the 19th-century British novelist wrote in blocks of 15 minutes. Despite working full-time at the post office, he ended up with 47 novels.
New York Times bestselling author, Steven Kotler works in blocks of 4 hours-4 am to 8 am.
I tend to work in blocks of 60 minutes.
So, it works.
Thanks again for sharing.
James
Yes, the timer is a common practice. It was popularized by Francesco Cirillo in the 1990s as the Pomodoro technique. Of course, he wasn’t the first to use it.
The Pomodoro technique is very prescriptive on how long you should focus, and when and how often to take breaks. I follow the idea only loosely.
I used to resist the idea of using a timer but I’ve found it’s really useful and it helps me to focus and get things done.
Does Steven Kotler set a timer for 4 hours or just blocks time off for writing during which he may take some short breaks?
I don’t know whether this fits into your post, but I thought I would share this because it works for me. I had just written a first draft, and I thought it was the worst thing I had ever written. But I knew it had the germ of an idea. So I did what I like to call “layer editing.”
I started at the beginning and corrected whatever was easy like grammar and typos and wordiness. Once I had made a few corrections, then others became obvious. So again I went over the whole text from top to bottom, and then again and then again. Before I knew it, I was flying high.
I have done this many times, and it always works, at least for me, but I have never seen anyone else mention it.
And thanks again to you for another great post.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Wally. That sounds good. I think we all need to find a way to keep our frustrations at bay so we can turn a rough draft into decent writing. And editing in multiple rounds is good advice!
I think what works best depends on what’s wrong with a post and what needs to be done to rescue it.
When a post feels so bad that it seems you can’t rescue it, I usually recommend leaving it for 24 hours (or more). Next, reread it and look for the things that are working instead of things that are wrong.
This requires staying open-minded and gentle—it still seems to be creator mode because you’re establishing what’s good and how to reuse in a better way. It requires big picture thinking.
However, if the content seems complete and logical, but the way it’s written feels all just wrong, then it’s time for the ruthless editor as you can focus on the detail.
I am with you Wally. I write and edit the same way. I find that it works for me, and even when it is all good and ready I still find I could write it better. I know I have to give in at some point.
I can’t tell you how much I feel you must be in mind sometimes.
I have a landing page to write in the next hour and this will help me. Say Hi! to Barb, she does a great work. diffuse-mode is the scientific term.
I first too a long bath to collect ideas. Diffuse mode at best. Now I’m in front of my google doc and go, focus mode. In between, I read your post to get rid of my guilt of not having jump in focus mode first.
Ha, yes! I love living in my readers’ minds. 🙂
The truth is, of course, we all face the same struggles.
I came across these two modes of thinking in Barbara Oakley’s book first. Her book is excellent.
What we think of as procrastination can be a need to engage in diffuse-mode thinking (or lantern mode—the term I prefer). The trick is to know when we need time to think and when we’re just being anxious and finding excuses not to get started.
Thank you for stopping by, Bruno!
David Ogivly, one of the greates advertisment gurus said:
I am a lousy copywriter, but I am a good editor.
So I go to work editing my own draft. After four or five editings, it looks good enough to show to the client. If the client changes the copy, I get angry—because I took a lot of trouble writing it, and what I wrote I wrote on purpose.
Sometimes clients give good feedback but often they seem to give feedback that doesn’t make any sense. They don’t understand what good copy is. That’s so frustrating!
Clients can be their own worst enemy!