HOW TO WRITE WELL - PART 3
Write as if you’re talking to your younger self. It’s funny, I think a lot of times when we’re giving words of advice, we’re really just giving ourselves advice. I admit much of what I write are in fact reminders to myself, things I wish I had known. When we write as if we’re talking to our younger selves, we come from a position of more experience, age, wisdom - somehow, this little shift in the mind makes it easier to put words on a page.
Draw out your ideas. Many of my pieces start out as drawings. Drawings help me understand my ideas better. Often times, they are necessary because I have yet to come up with the words to fully express my ideas.
Step away from the screen. The computer is where a lot of my greatest ideas die because it is too exact in its nature and I lose all the organic goodness of how a piece first began. I try to finish as much of my pieces by hand before I even think of touching the computer. Spend 90% out in the analog world, and the remaining 10% typing it up so you can share your work with the world.
What advice would your 80-year-old self give to the current you? Look at yourself from an older / wiser / more experienced perspective. What useful information would you impart to yourself right now? Share that with us. (I know this one sounds very similar to #1, but it's slightly different)
Pretend like your readers just took a couple shots of whiskey. I forgot where I got this idea from. But to be fair, it’s not original. I love this idea though. Have you ever tried talking to a drunk person? It’s not easy! It’s even harder if you try to use fancy words and sentence structures. This is a fun way of double checking if I’m adding unnecessary fluff to my writing.
Talk to yourself. Literally. Open your mouth and talk to yourself. I do this all the time. Even in public. And I’ve gotten a lot of crazy stares from it. But when I do so I have something to bounce off of. It's like playing a game of handball or tennis by myself against a concrete wall. The harder I swing the harder it comes back at me. It’s a sort of challenge that often results in too many post-it notes splayed across my room, but it also brings out the best in me.
Write about what makes you angry. I don’t know about you, but whenever I’ve encountered an angry person, they have absolutely no problems communicating their ideas. It’s quite beautiful in a way. They are never at a loss for words, and there's quite a bit of style as well. A sort of no holds barred exercise in language and personal flair. This is not to say you need to turn everything you write into a rant, but maybe you can use the anger to your advantage.
Don't wait for inspiration. I love inspiration. It's like a wave that lifts you up and everything just flows right through my fingertips effortlessly. But sometimes you need to plow through nonetheless and build your own momentum in order to get to the good stuff. Be patient, but don't wait.
Always be taking notes. Be a collector of everything. Be a collector of great books, witty blurbs, quotes, conversations, and sayings from your friends. Restaurant menus and random words. Collect anything and everything that appeals to you. Then throw it into a pile and let it all marinate. I've been collecting for several years now and I've got a base that's quite rich in flavor (if I say so myself). Like a homemade bowl of bone broth that's been simmering for the past 72 hours. Throw some noodles in there and dinner is served.
Fold laundry. I know this sounds weird, but I think there’s even research that backs this up. I get so many ideas when I fold my laundry. I think it has something to do with how it’s a repetitive activity that isn’t TOO hard, so it keeps our frontal cortex occupied just enough to leave enough brain power to let our subconscious do all the creative connections we normally wouldn’t be able to make. Other activities include driving, going for a run, or washing the dishes. Who would've thought such mundane activities would be the birthplaces of your next great idea?
by Jason Lam