The Matthias Chronicles

Sunday, September 14, 2008, 4:52 PM

Writing from the cuff

by Mar Matthias Darin

"Writing from the cuff" is a phrase that is used to describe an article as being written without planning or extensive fore-thought. Most professional bloggers see this as a way to kill any blog. This is probably true for any technical or professional business blog where every "T" has to be crossed and every "I" dotted. However, for a diary, journal, mix bag, or personal blog, writing from the cuff may, in fact, be the best way to go.

This blog, "The Matthias Chronicles" is a good example of a blog that did very poorly when everything was planned and pressed. I had several articles lined up and marked on a calendar when I was going to post them. Everything worked well and I had plenty of time to write and think about the content in the most minute ways. Perhaps too detailed and too complete because I wasn't getting any comments. Nobody was responding to my posts, no matter how far out I went to really piss people off. I couldn't even get a response out of a liberal. Now that is truly deplorable.

This all changed one day when I saw something that just rubbed my the wrong way and I went off on one of my now infamous rants. I wrote what I had in my head in a blistering 15 minutes flat and sent it up to my blog. Low and behold, I has my first comment within minutes of posting my article. Needless to say, I was shocked that I got a response at all, let alone that rapid to the time I made my posting.

This left me a bit baffled, so I set out to try and reproduce my success by writing another article the next day "from the cuff". And again I was getting comments. This left me thinking. I came up with the following possibilities.

First and foremost, the subject matter of my articles played a major factor. Certain types of content just didn't get responses, no matter how wild or out there it was.

Second, planned topics about current news items didn't draw comments either. I surmised that my content was too well researched and, most likely, too sterile. In all of my careful planning, I took out the most important factor - human reactions and emotions. My article were like walking into a hospital, they were too clean with no rough edges for my valued visitors to gnaw on or respond to.

So for me, success came by a most unorthodoxed manner, the "Johnny on the spot" syndrome. My blog had to be about my thoughts and feeling, not a PhD dissertation that left no room for expansion, opposing views, or possible side comments, like given A, have you thought about B.

With all the advantages I had gained by writing from the cuff, I quickly learned about one of the worst disadvantages: writer's block. What a major problem it became. How was I going to write on something when my brain was as empty as this country's politicians' speeches. I had to come up with a fix and fast. As opinionated as I am, it didn't take long for something to get me riled up and going. All I had to do was watch the news and I had fresh meat to chomp on and rant over.

Ever since that day, I have been writing from the cuff and quite glad the situation that sparked this change occurred. My blog has been booming ever since. While being prepared with something to write and having perfect spelling and grammar are important, there is something to be gained by remembering that a blog has one essential element that must be present - it must remain "human".

If you've never written from the cuff, try it. You, too, may be as surprised as I was with the responses.

Comments from fwaggle

i tend to agree. in my teens i helped run a small "zine" that was supposed to be mostly technical articles, and it was never good to have them written off the cuff.

however as far as non-technical content goes, some of my worst writing is from when i've gone back to give it a second look, much worse carefully structured and planned. i think if you're not writing technical content, off the cuff writing seems more organic and emotional, and therefore more interesting.

don't listen to "professional" bloggers. professional blogging is like being retarded for a living.

Comments from Mize

Hi.

We may use blogs as a virtual space with different functions but we´re humans talking to other humans trough a PC. I tend to read blogs where I can feel a person behind it. Blogs with a personal picture and speach are my favorites. I recently meet a fellow blogger in flesh and it was a great experience. Blogs that don´t socialize don´t stand out. Personally (since I came across your blog) I like reading all your posts.

Best Regards.

Comments from Robin

I'm new to blogging and have been reading a lot of other blogs and I have to say that this is the best advice I've seen about writing successfully .. and to think it came "off the cuff." Thanks for the insight. I will try to follow this "rule" myself and see where it takes me.

Comments from The Linkback Project

Came by a circle surfin, and wanted to let you know I bookmarked you on del.ico.us...

Comments from Christina the coffee lady

Good morning.... just out circle surfin w/ LBP.... It is amazing how people tend to respond more readily to the "off the cuff" type posts.

Comments from tahtimbo

I have to say that I did the same thing when I started to blog, yet now I find that my best articles are not the ones that are planned, but the ones that just pop into my head. Those are the articles that tend to write themselves.

Comments from Helen Johnson

Your point was beautifully stated! Thank you for sharing...

Comments from Mar Matthias Darin

fwaggle: I find even with my technical posts that using the "from the cuff" method helps produce a good rough draft that will essentially become my article. I am able to convey my thoughts better when I'm not focused on format, symantics, grammer, and spelling. All that gets done in the editing and proofreading part.

Mize: I too find the persomal diary blogs to be the most enjoyable. I enjoy the diversity of thinking even if I don't agree with the author. I think my favorite part is the different point of views expressed on the really contraversial topics. It really hilites the human race in a meaning way.

Thank you. Its nice knowing that my post, even the wild ones, are enjoyed.

Robin: I believe the most important factor to any successful blog is finding the niche that best fits its author. Your blog should be a reflection of you and your experiences. That is where you'll find your best inspiration, even if your experience is about your lifestyle and circumstances therein.

The Linkback Project: Thank you.

Christina the coffee lady: Knee jerk reactions, perhaps...

tahtimbo: Its interesting to re-read the article during the proof reading. I often surprise myself with what comes out.

Helen: Thank you.