Stream of Consciousness

Writer, Impostor

I feel like an imposter when I write, especially when I post. I always hated English in school and I'm not sure I learned how to actually write an outline for an essay or utilize drafts.

I have been attempting to use drafts more often for my writings. As I understand, a draft is seperate from the finished piece, another document by the same name just with "draft" in the file name.

I now realize the importance of drafts. A draft is the first-take of an idea and my process before was editing that first-take, without keeping an original version.

I feel a bit foolish now. I used to get frustrated with myself for not saving the original drafts because I had edited out some part that I wish I had kept a record of.

About essays, they sound so formal. I could never figure out how to outline a topic regardless of how many templates and examples I looked at. However I have learned of "creative essays" in recent years which sound a lot more appealing.

My biggest issue with most structured writing, is trying to understand outlines and examples regardless of form. I don't know how to introduce topics for essays or plot out a simple story. Not that I need to these days.

For me, writing is an art, and like most of my art, I rely on the flow; how words link to each other to make meaning, how punctuation can deliver an idea.

When I attempt to use structures or outlines, writing feels stagnant and forced, my rhythm falters. Words become elusive and ideas are harder to grasp.

There's this bit of writing advice I've seen several variations of that basically says to ignore all writing advice before listening to any other advice. That advice helped me get out of my head and put words on the page.

Although he doesn't state that exact advice, one of my favourite advice lists is by George Orwell:

i. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
iii. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
iv. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.