Sunday post #12
Do you want to write? Me too. For the past 12 weeks, I have been working on establishing a weekly habit and as part of that, I have been experimenting, designing, and refining a process that works for me.
Every project needs a brief, here’s how I started:
Write once a week
Answer the question: What have you been working on this week?
Publish it on my website on the same day each week.
Simple. I blocked out two hours in my diary each Sunday to write and post so that it wouldn’t interfere with my work week. Small, easy, repeatable. James Clear would be proud.
Every Sunday I would sit down with my laptop to write using the prompt question. It was harder than I expected. A lot of the work I do is under NDA which I can’t talk about and I felt that was the good stuff. I wanted to keep it real and personal but I was also aware that you would be reading this. What should I share? How much?
My friend Shan’s voice popped into my head, “Don’t get it right, get it written”. He’s a writer, he would know.
I got on with it, it felt good to write and share the first few blog articles but in the background of my mind there was a little voice saying: ‘Who do you think you are?’ I chose to ignore it and carry on.
A few weeks in, I sat with my laptop for five hours, writing and rewriting until the article was written. I wasn’t enjoying the process, something wasn’t working. Again, The voice popped up louder: ‘You are not a writer.’
When I get negative thoughts like this I’m working on looking deeper to discover what is really going on and taking small actions. I replied in my head: ‘I hear you. You need evidence and advice. Let’s ask the audience.’
I messaged five people I know, respect and trust (including Shan) for feedback on what I had written so far, and waited for their responses feeling equal parts excited and sick.
Within an hour I learned:
They liked what I was doing
(I am a writer! Two’s up to the voice in my head).Try to make it more you
Show more of your process and thinking
Don’t feel the need to pitch ideas
The feedback gave me the boost and inspiration I needed. After some time reflecting I realised, like I do with any design project, I needed to identify the problem(s) and refine the brief and process.
At the core, I had three main problems:
Writing didn’t feel spontaneous, it felt forced.
Sitting at my laptop on a Sunday and expecting myself to write a post within two hours was unrealistic.
The writing prompt was too specific and restrictive.
Time to update the process and brief, new focus:
Journal for 10 minutes a day
Answer the question ‘What happened at work today?’
Write using a pen and paper
On Sunday write a blog post based on the journal entries and share it online.
Game changer.
The process of journalling has helped me easily generate new ideas and means that on a Sunday when I sit to write, I’m not starting with a blank page. Usually, I can’t wait to refine what I’ve been thinking about during the week.
Changing the question has opened me up to talk about experiences at work and ideas about the business part of design which excites me.
Writing initial drafts using pen and paper and setting a ten-minute timer has been liberating. I’m aiming in the short time frame to get something written rather than getting it right. When I do this I feel what I write is more authentic and real. I get into a flow and forget that you will be reading this and write for me first.
The overall process is becoming quicker and much more fun. Are my posts perfect? No. But I don’t care, I love the process and that’s what is important at this stage. Good things will come with time in the game. You’ve gotta love the process.
In the studio this week…
Over at VS+YO, we have been collaborating with a client’s internal design team on their new digital product. Our initial task is to take their wireframes and style components to reflect the brand style and personality. The designs we create will be used to start their UI design system.
Go outside challenge
The weather here has been typical for Scotland kicking into spring, all four seasons within an hour. I’ve been making my target of going outside but it hasn’t always been fun. Looking forward to some blue skies and warmer temperatures.
This week’s theme: Yellow.
Day 78 - Blooming bush
Day 79 - Yell-ow!
Day 80 - Under construction
Day 81 - Black and yellow
Day 82 - Zig and Zag
Day 83 - Spring breakthrough
Day 84 - Yellow petals
