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| JayCross |
Those
little rooms of paper—stacked inside a miniature pastel high-rise on our
desks—are a chance to exit a writing block.
Here
are a few important characteristics of this humble office stationery which can
help with the process of writing.
· We
associate Post-Its with a particular context for writing: notes to the self (or
informal writing, low-stakes writing)
which are usually action-oriented (reminders, lists, To-Dos).
· We
also associate Post-Its with disposable
writing. Once whatever written on them is accomplished, we crumple and toss
them in the recycling bin.
· Post-Its
have an unusual audience dynamic.
They’re typically private writing (not
meant for another reader or evaluation) but yet they are frequently displayed
in a public place—say, on the wall above a desk or on the outside of a personal
scheduler.
Consequence
# 1:
The
to-do list dimension makes whatever we’re writing a bit more transactional. In other words, with
writing done on Post-Its, the sense is that it is referring to something that
has to happen in the world. Like a
grocery list or a reminder of a dental appointment, the content on a Post-It
suggests a matter-of-fact action.
When
writing resembles more an action than abstraction, it becomes a gesture one has
to do, a gesture that doesn’t require much heavy thinking. Writing becomes more
of the “just-do-it” mentality of freewriting…less precious.
Consequence
#2:
To
write a document on Post-Its (I’m talking about the standard size, not the
micro or pad-sized ones) means to be constantly interrupted as your
voice/writing moves from square to square.
This
can feel a bit like leaping over hurdles, but paradoxically, one result is that
you may have more of an athletic sense of your intrapersonal voice. It feels
more present, more eager to continue, to press on.
The
gesture of “filling in another page”—albeit a micro page—also carries
satisfaction, helping to create a positive association and self-confidence
about writing. And the more positive associations about writing you are able to gather, the more motivation you will have to write.
Consequence
#3:
Post-Its
increase the physicality of writing. In other words, the confinement of writing
on the small squares writing forces you to notice your materials more than you
might normally.
This
can draw your attention to the present moment and away from imaginary audiences.
The heightened sense of the present moment of writing may seem annoying at
first. Lean into that sensation of annoyance and observe it. After a few
moments, it too will likely fade and change, and the attention to the present
can give you greater access to your inner dialog for writing.
Consequence
#4:
Of
all these points, it’s the way Post-It writing seems
disposable—and how it automatically takes on the sheen of low-stakes work—that may
help the most.
The association of Post-Its with disposable or low-stakes writing reduces expectations and predetermined thought about ability and outcome.
It can shift your audience dynamic such that you feel less responsible to a (possibly strict) audience or judge.
The fact that the Post-It genre typically involves notes to the self reinforces the idea of your writing as intrapersonal dialog, as self-talk. As a result, no matter what you’re writing, the text takes on the appearance of freewriting.
You
could be writing a highly formal document or exploring a complex idea that’s
intended (eventually) for the most critical of audiences, but on a Post-It,
this writing begins first and fore mostly for you, your eyes. You’re talking to
yourself, no matter the topic.
In
this regard, the humble Post-It is the stationery of the intrapersonal, the
call to you, the note that says, Write about it.
