I read a lovely post today that has made me reconsider my previous post bemoaning my growing list of draft blog posts.
Charlie Gilkey describes his blogging workflow using the gardening metaphor to discuss the tension between incubating ideas and dwelling too upon them long. Essential reading for bloggers and those interested in the process of generating and developing ideas.
The post, Do You Have an Idea Garden? is worth 5 minutes but I will summarise my thoughts too (I may get a bit carried away with the metaphor):
- Ideas are delicate seeds that need love and attention to grow
- Create a safe place to plant your seeds (an idea garden)
- Your idea garden must:
- Be easy to access for planting (minimal faffing with tech)
- Keep all ideas in once place to allow for cross pollination
- Be tended / weeded / pruned regularly
What this looks like and what tools you use is up to you: the principles count.
The metaphor has helped me understand that my rather scruffy weed patch of draft blog posts is in fact an undervalued fertile ground that just needs some gentle tending. Thanks Charlie 🙂
