From Structured Writing To Spacious Expression

A quiet reflection on shifting to a more spacious, intuitive writing style

For years, most of my writing was structured, clear, specific.
It needed to be.

Policy documents, evaluations, research summaries, explanatory pieces—writing where facts mattered, clarity was essential, 
and the goal was to inform or persuade with precision.

Working as an economist and analyst for more than 30 years,  I got very good at that kind of writing.
It became second nature.

Whenever I had to write, my mind would automatically look for categories, definitions, outlines, and clear conclusions.

But the writing I find myself doing now feels… very different.

It’s softer.
More spacious.
Less about conveying facts and more about sharing a feeling.

Before I was writing to remove ambiguity.
Now, I’m embracing it—allowing nuance and personal reflection.

Sometimes, I wonder—
Is it okay to write this way?

There’s a part of me that’s so used to specifying and structuring, 
that when I write in this open, flowing way, it feels almost… too vague.
Like I’m not “doing it properly.”

But then I remember—
this writing isn’t meant to tell someone what to think.
It’s meant to invite them to feel. 

It’s not about providing answers.
It’s about holding space for reflection.

This style of writing feels more personal, more intimate.
It feels closer to my own inner rhythm.
And while it doesn’t have the crisp outlines of my previous work, it has something else—presence.

It’s like I was used to wearing structured jackets for years (I literally did!)—
and now I’m seeing how it feels to wear soft, flowing fabrics. 

Both styles are part of me. 
Both have their place.
I’m simply choosing what feels good now.
And that’s enough. 

If you enjoyed reading this, please ❤️. It helps others find it. Thank you! 🤗