Writing "On Assignment" Is Not My Forté

Most writing starts with a spark in the brain. It then moves downward into the heart wherein passions lie, then down a bit further into the gut where senses and feelings reside, and then back up again into the brain where it is all put together and processed in the form of words and phrases and sentences that then flow downward once more into the fingertips to strike the keys and bring it all to life.

It is for this reason that for me, words often flow seamlessly and easily. There is often a thing said by most writers that the best writing often writes itself. And that's how it tends to feel most of the time.

It's not work. It is not a physical thing. It just happens.

But a lot of this "ease of writing" of course flows from it being something personal, and internal. The construct of the written word is coming from your own being, your own senses, your own thoughts and passions and your own vision and imagination.

I mention this because recently I was tapped by my employer to revise and rewrite their about us page. The thing is, that for all of the reasons aforementioned, things like this, for me, are simply harder to write.

While I can typically write an article or some other shorter form of writing very quickly, at least the rough draft, something of the nature of a request to write something takes quite a bit more time.

Simply put, this kind of writing is not as fluid of a process. Granted, many people can do this, and many writers actually make a living from it. But that's not me. Writing "on assignment" is tough.

It is very likely part of the reason I never took an interest to go into journalism. Deadlines and forced ideas just aren't my thing. Ghost writing wouldn't be a good fit for me either.

I cannot deny that I have some knack for being able to put words together in a way that makes sense to others, and some ability to be able to be creative in how I do it. Surely I can incorporate some of this 'technique,' if you will, into something I write outside of my natural processes. But at the same time I also know that what I write will not be without some refraction and awkwardness.

Perhaps to some extent there is also some level of difficulty added from a layer of pressure that would not exist when you are writing for yourself, and on your own terms. In other words, there is no one to necessarily "impress," but of course you still have a desire to do a good job and live up to whatever standard that you have sort of built a reputation on.

Some writers have told me in conversations that being put "on the spot" is often times a recipe for disaster. Those moments sitting around a campfire when someone points to you and says, "All right, Mr. Writer. Tell us a story," can be disappointing not only for the writer, but for the audience as well.

Because mostly, that's simply not how the process works for a good many of us. When something is not natural it is of course otherwise contrived. And while that can still produce something of value, because you have the experience and the know-how, it will still never be an example of the best you would have otherwise done.

The task is mine to complete, and complete it I will. My only hope is that what is produced in completing it meets the standards I have set for myself, and the expectations of the person who put their confidence in me to complete it.

Lead image by Porwest, Dell laptop computer.