When to stop pouring
I keep on thinking of things that we need to get clear on before we get to the writing part of writing with clarity.
The container is one of them.
It was a comment from Rosa Say that got me thinking about the size and shape of the thing that contains our writing. It was in the context of whether a month long forum was ‘enough’ to contain our words and ideas on a particular topic but it made me think in a more general way about the containers that we’re using for our words.
The image that came to mind was pouring words into a glass. There are lots of ways we can picture this – a glass of clear, cold, refreshing water; a pint jug of beer, frothing at the top; a shot glass for a quick, fast hit. All of those things conjure up associations, memories, expectations and and we instinctively adjust our expectations as drinkers/readers to the kind of glass that’s in front of us.
I suppose my question is whether we always do the same thing as writers. Do we stop and ask ourselves what’s the right amount, the right mix, the right blend for this container? Or do we just keep pouring and hope for the best?
It’s easy to see how this could go wrong (and I don’t want to force the analogy) but you see what I mean – how much it would help us to get clear on what (and how much) to put in before we got started by recognizing, understanding, working with and not against the kind of container we were using. Oh and once we got started of course – knowing when to stop.
What do you think? Do you find yourself thinking (consciously or unconsciously) about what you’re pouring your words into? Would the container concept help you get ready to write – and do so with greater confidence? Would it help you to know when to stop?
Good points! The media that you are writing for makes a huge difference in how you should write.
Thanks Laura – I found it a useful concept but I wasn’t convinced I was making sense when I wrote about it! Glad it struck a chord with you
Joanna
Absolutely positively it makes a difference, Joanna! And it starts with the very first question: “For whom am I writing this?” The answer to that question give you the shape of the container, and possibly even the refreshment that goes in it.
The next question, “Why am I writing this?” will give you the size of the container. Finally, “What will I say?” tells you how much to put in the container.
Gee, this analogy is making me thirsty!
Thanks for helping me out with the analogy Robert!
You are a master of refreshment writing if I may so (and oddly just thinking about this in relation to that question we were playing around with a while back – one word to describe your blog…)
Joanna