Writing Practice

Write often. Publish deliberately.

Seth Godin’s work reminds me that writing improves by showing up and lowering the stakes of any one attempt. Derek Sivers separates frequent private writing from public publishing: explore the idea fully, then share it when it is worth a reader’s time.

I want both. A regular private practice gives me enough raw material to learn from. Deliberate publishing gives each idea time to become clearer. My starting target is two thoughtful posts a month—not because two is magical, but because it feels sustainable enough to keep going.

My weekly rhythm

1. 1

   Three short idea sessions. I will spend about 15 minutes capturing moments, questions, and observations without trying to turn them into finished posts.

2. 2

   One development session. I will choose one idea and give it room to become something more complete.

3. 3

   One revision session. After at least one night away, I will return with fresh eyes and revise one job at a time.

4. 4

   One publishing decision. I will ask whether the piece is ready to interest, entertain, or help the person it is for. If it is not ready, it can stay in the workshop.

A session counts if I produce five rough sentences. The goal is to keep the practice alive, not to win every session.

One idea at a time

Before drafting, I will finish this sentence:

This post is about the idea that __________.

If I need the word “and” to complete it, I may have two posts. From there, a draft can move through five stages. This is a thinking frame, not a formula; a short post may need only three.

1. 1

   Moment. Begin with something concrete: a scene, exchange, choice, mistake, observation, or tension.

2. 2

   Question. Name what the moment made me wonder.

3. 3

   Exploration. Work through what I first believed, what complicates it, and another reasonable angle.

4. 4

   Meaning. Explain what I currently think the experience means.

5. 5

   Landing. End with the clearest sentence, useful implication, or honest question—not a forced life lesson.

How I will revise

I will write one sentence per line in early drafts. That should make it easier to judge, move, shorten, or delete each sentence. When I revise, I will make four separate passes so I am not trying to solve every problem at once.

1. 1

   Truth. Is this what I actually believe? Am I overstating what one experience proves? Have I treated other people fairly?

2. 2

   Structure. Can I state the central idea in one sentence? Does every section serve it? Does the ending feel earned?

3. 3

   Clarity. Could someone unfamiliar with the story follow it? Are abstract claims supported by concrete details?

4. 4

   Compression and sound. Remove repetition and throat-clearing, vary sentence length, and read the entire post aloud.

Writing about Toastmasters

My role as VP of Public Relations for the Alcott Toastmasters Club will naturally give me stories about communication, leadership, preparation, feedback, and attention. Those stories also involve other people, so trust comes first.

• Make myself—not another member—the subject of mistakes or embarrassment.
• Remove identifying details unless I have permission to include them.
• Separate my personal view from any official club position.
• Focus on the insight rather than backstage information.
• Ask whether the person involved would feel fairly represented.

Before I publish

• ✓ One central idea
• ✓ At least one concrete detail
• ✓ A fair treatment of complexity
• ✓ A beginning that creates interest without hype
• ✓ An ending that adds meaning instead of repeating the post
• ✓ Language that sounds like me when I read it aloud

A post does not need to be definitive. “This is what I think now” is a valid contribution.

After I publish

Each post will end with a short private learning log:

1. What became clearer while I was writing?
2. Which sentence sounds most like me?
3. Where did the draft resist me?
4. What did I cut that improved it?
5. What will I practice in the next post?

If readers respond, I will save the language they use and learn from it. I will treat that response as evidence—not a verdict on my worth or the value of the work.

A six-week experiment

For the first two weeks, I will focus on showing up and being specific. In weeks three and four, I will pay closer attention to structure. In weeks five and six, I will read everything aloud and look for the lines that sound most naturally like me.

Then I will review what I wrote and choose one skill for the next six weeks: stronger openings, clearer structure, richer stories, or tighter endings.