Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

I have to write all the parts to have a whole. But the parts that comprise the whole will probably change.

I am facing a big writing project (“big” of course is subjective). I have divided the whole big project into parts. Now, write each part, check off the parts in the list, and I will have the whole.

I don’t feel like writing the first part first. I don’t feel like writing the second, third, or even fourth part first. What do do?

1. Write the part that I most want to write, first.
2. Look at what is left and repeat step 1.

Well, I suppose that will work. Correction, I know that will work. But what’s the use? I mean, I have to write all the parts to have a whole. Why not just “bear down” (or some other cliche) and write the parts in order?

Simple answer to this obvious but no-fun question: until I am finished with the whole, I really don’t know what parts comprise the whole.

Once I have been writing for a while, the list of parts will probably change. The part that I didn’t want to write, may be unnecessary. I didn’t have to struggle with it after all. It went into the trash can before I wrote it.

Lazy approach? Maybe, but who am I to call myself “lazy” when I am writing all the necessary parts that comprise a whole and I ship the whole piece to those who need it?

Write the most interesting (to me) part first. The rest will fall in place. At least, that is my experience.