I noted on Facebook and Twitter last week that I would have an exciting announcement and here it is - I'm a columnist. Ok, so one column does not a "columnist" make, but I look forward to exploring this old-for-the-world new-for-me forum.
My first reflection is just how hard it is to write with the structure required of a column as opposed to the stream-of-consciousness style used for blogging. For the Hogan piece linked above, I spent 45 minutes writing and about 4 hours editing, moving sections around, deleting things that didn't fit, and making sure I wasn't being "too cute" with the metaphor (something I am still not 100% confident with).
I also felt much more deliberative with the column - is that particular sentence fair? Is it what I mean to say, or is it just included for flow? It is very difficult to pull back polemic red meat when writing a column and I don't mean to suggest that I did so completely. I had an idea I wanted to communicate in the form of an argument and there are counter-arguments to that idea. Accepting the counter-arguments, and maybe even included a counter to that counter in your work, is what makes a good column.
This is a start. I have so many other things I want to write about in this form. I still plan to blog, but I will admit that I am a bit enamored with additional challenge of writing with greater structure and deliberation.
Have a great Monday doing what you love!
