This Could Have Been a Great Headline
I behave like a writer, without being one.
--
…writers shape the world…
(that’s a known fact!)
I am a well-well-known writer, by very(-very) few people. (joke alert!)
My name is Adrian, I am from Romania, and lately, I discovered this new passion for writing quirky texts.
My method is my style
Since I am a novice in this, I don’t even know the type of writers that exist. But, my method is:
- I write in general short articles, or social media posts, trying to synthesize information a lot
- even in articles, I write short sentences and use generous spacing among paragraphs
- in this way, long and complex phrases stand out (rarely, when I use them)
- almost all my writings include a joke or some bits of sarcasm
- I get inspiration from everything around me: from technology, life’s meaningful questions, relations, family life, religion, to games & puzzles, sport, or people’s feelings.
- I have a lot of ideas and drop them all in my phone’s notes app
- I revise these ideas often, combine them sometimes, and rarely articles emerge.
How do I write
Writing ideas, and inspiration, happen at the most unusual time. I am always prepared (within reasons) to switch off from any distraction, and write every thought down, for 5 min or 5 hours. I embrace the writing flow of ideas. I capture everything, every small & insignificant detail. I break all the rules, I am redundant, make spelling and grammar mistakes. I squeeze out each and every drop of inspiration. I write as if nobody will be reading. I edit later.
Audience
I write for myself first. Then for my family and friends who are my most feared critics. Then it’s easier to write for a larger audience, for whoever comes across the article - for people I don’t know, but I hope to intrigue and conquer with my ideas.
Word-plating
Before publishing, I do what most writers do: I try to come up with an appealing headline, delicately selecting each word, and trying to reveal just as much as it’s needed from the article. It’s like when a chef does his plating. After cooking the meal, he picks the best pieces and displays them in front of everyone. Word-plating — that is how I call when a writer picks the headline
For this one you’re reading right now, the maximum that I could come up with was a desiderate. An almost desperate scream for the reader’s attention.
This Could Have Been A Great Headline is a paradox.
Curiously, I was thinking the same when writing Don’t Read This Article If You Want To Win.
