She Dares To Say - #12: Deconstructing my writing process
*Obligatory holiday season promotional messaging about the option to gift a subscription of ‘She Dares To Say’ to anyone who you think might be interested. And to make things more ‘official’ you can also download a PDF gift to send on to your giftee.* As always, if you enjoy these essays please do consider becoming a paid subscriber yourself – if you would prefer to make a one-off donation, feel free to send a contribution via PayPal. [Image description: Text ‘Deconstructing My Writing Process’ on navy blue background with a lilac paintbrush stroke highlighted segment] People sometimes ask how I decide what to write about and what my process looks like, so this month I’ll indulge those folks and describe it a little for you all. I work to a content calendar – set by me – where the release dates are fixed, but I regard content itself as flexible. I planned the bare bones of December’s content back July, and reached out to a writer for the guest piece then. [Image description: Text from Almaz’s content calendar ‘December 2021 I’ve been trying to forge a connection between my personal essay and the guest writer’s essay, so since the this month’s guest piece be on book culture, I decided to muse on a similar theme for mine. This essay was supposed to deftly incorporate these talking points:
However, a week out from the release date, having already spent eight hours (double my usual length of time) working on the draft, I hadn’t been able to weave each of the parts together in a coherent way. I was fretting as it’s so frustrating when swirling ideas don’t coalesce according to the timeframe available. Here’s what I had for the first two bullets in the list:
I was then flailing around on the page with just fragments of sentences, such as:
I had an OK description of the podcast episode, with fab accompanying imagery:
Then I was going to include pictures I’d taken of my copy of the book, open at the pages featuring the sex scene, showing my notes scribbled in the margins. I’d taken some test shots one evening, which are below, but hadn’t yet got round to taking well-balanced, aesthetically pleasing pictures of the pages in natural light.
[Image description: Page 178 of Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, featuring underlined segments and margin notes scrawled in pencil] [Image description: Page 179 of Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, featuring underlined segments and margin notes scrawled in pencil] [Image description: Page 180 of Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, featuring underlined segments and margin notes scrawled in pencil] [Image description: Page 181 of Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, featuring underlined segments and margin notes scrawled in pencil] And I hadn’t worked out how I was going to end the essay, nor thought about the words I was going to spotlight in the’ glossary’ segment either. So in keeping with this week’s ‘Work in Progress’ vibe, I’m just going to stop here. [Image description: Text ‘POSTSCRIPT’ on a navy blue background with a lilac paintbrush stroke] The ‘POSTSCRIPT’ segment for paid subscribers will drop on Wednesday 8 December. To receive this extra mailout, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid subscription. [Image description: Text ‘PRODUCED BY’ on navy blue background with a lilac paintbrush stroke] Available for commissions. Info via almazohene.com/contact-faqs. If you enjoy this content and would like to support please consider becoming a paid subscriber of ‘She Dares to Say’. If you would prefer to make a one-off donation, feel free to also send a contribution via PayPal. You’re a free subscriber to She Dares To Say. For the full experience, become a paid subscriber. |
Older messages
Guest Post: ‘More Explicit Material’
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Written by Jennifer Lyon Bell (she/her)
#11: Explicit Material
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
In which I think critically about p*rn...
You Might Also Like
Your gift to poetry matched!
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Today only. Dear Friend, I have some exciting news: an Academy board member has pledged to match any gifts made TODAY only, up to $20000. Your special gift in support of all the Academy's programs
Preserving Process
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Sometimes someone else says it best ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
India's Sign-Wallas: On the Brush on the Subcontinent
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Meena Kadri takes us to India to appreciate the flamboyant work of the country's 'sign-wallas'. BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & Culture bl.ag online weekly
I’m Fine
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Is your story hindering or helping you? ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
No Pain, All Gain
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Physical activity can protect you from chronic pain, a GPS wearable lets you train like the pros and your weekly recommendations. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
DO Manifesto: A new, live, online course.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
100 places only. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Falling into your ocean eyes
Thursday, April 25, 2024
But first: save $ — and earn rewards — on your prescriptions — Check out what we Skimm'd for you today April 25, 2024 Subscribe Read in browser Together with goodrx But first: save $ — and earn
"Epistle" by Ellen Hinsey
Thursday, April 25, 2024
When the sky darkens with alabaster and mahogany— Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day April 25, 2024 Epistle Ellen Hinsey When the sky darkens with alabaster and mahogany —— Storm and
Kourtney Kardashian Wore The Ultimate 45th Birthday Bikini & WOW
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Vintage Dior, of course.
Should You Use 'Debt Avalanche' or 'Debt Snowball' to Pay Off Debt?
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
You Can Check a Car's VIN History for Free. These are two well-established methods that can help you systematically pay off your debts, but how do you decide which approach is right for your uni