Thread
I've given feedback on over 500 essays in Write of Passage, and I run a daily "Feedback Gym."
After 1:1 breakout rooms, we each share one meta-point on the writing process.
Here's a thread of the writing wisdom we've gathered:
After 1:1 breakout rooms, we each share one meta-point on the writing process.
Here's a thread of the writing wisdom we've gathered:
1. Sometimes you need to draft 3,000 words to be able to summarize your piece in 3 words, so you can then write a 300 word essay.
2. The "phase change method" is when you temporarily change format to refine your idea.
Text > audio > text
Video > text > video
Read your essay out loud to a friend-- notice how you compress, abbreviate, or re-phrase on the fly. Record it.
Text > audio > text
Video > text > video
Read your essay out loud to a friend-- notice how you compress, abbreviate, or re-phrase on the fly. Record it.
3. Playfulness is often the gap between your real-life personality and your voice on the page.
4. Avoid big section headers when you're early in the process.
They create blindspots and prevent you from seeing the granularity in your thinking.
A "reverse outline" is a list that describes each paragraph as a short-phrase. It lets you see what's actually on the page.
They create blindspots and prevent you from seeing the granularity in your thinking.
A "reverse outline" is a list that describes each paragraph as a short-phrase. It lets you see what's actually on the page.
5. It can be quicker to re-write full paragraphs than to edit them.
Write new paragraphs above existing ones.
Old paragraphs are helpful to reference as you re-write-- you can delete them after.
Compression isn't reducing or refining.
Compression is synthesis and re-creation.
Write new paragraphs above existing ones.
Old paragraphs are helpful to reference as you re-write-- you can delete them after.
Compression isn't reducing or refining.
Compression is synthesis and re-creation.
6. A prompt isn’t something you answer once.
Your whole writing portfolio can be based on answering a single prompt over and over.
Don't worry about finding new prompts.
Revisit old prompts in a new way.
Your whole writing portfolio can be based on answering a single prompt over and over.
Don't worry about finding new prompts.
Revisit old prompts in a new way.
7. A writer is intimately familiar with how their ideas are connected.
Readers aren't.
Don't fear being blatant in how you connect ideas together.
There's a spectrum between subtle <> explicit.
Be subtle in the details.
Be explicit about the key pillars of your piece.
Readers aren't.
Don't fear being blatant in how you connect ideas together.
There's a spectrum between subtle <> explicit.
Be subtle in the details.
Be explicit about the key pillars of your piece.
Quick intermission.
H/t to our Feedback Gym contributors last week:
@charlesdbecker
@novelsandgames
@lxoariel
@cahouser
@naokoken
@Karaminder
@karenadesouza
@chr_iswong
@SwarupaSubhash
@ugarterd
@Kelly_EdTech
@john__nic
@melissa_menke
@Mtvillwock
@ThePupOfWallSt
@pmansata
H/t to our Feedback Gym contributors last week:
@charlesdbecker
@novelsandgames
@lxoariel
@cahouser
@naokoken
@Karaminder
@karenadesouza
@chr_iswong
@SwarupaSubhash
@ugarterd
@Kelly_EdTech
@john__nic
@melissa_menke
@Mtvillwock
@ThePupOfWallSt
@pmansata
8. Write on your computer. Edit on your phone.
When you scroll through your own essay with your thumb, it makes you feel like a reader.
When you scroll through your own essay with your thumb, it makes you feel like a reader.
9. A benefit of live 1:1 feedback is the ability to ask a chain of questions.
Instead of telling someone what they should do, ask good questions.
Probe for details, experiences, and vulnerability.
The right questions can help them unlock what they've been looking for.
Instead of telling someone what they should do, ask good questions.
Probe for details, experiences, and vulnerability.
The right questions can help them unlock what they've been looking for.
10. If you’re sharing a vomit draft, tell your editor!
“I plan to re-write this, but give it a read and let me know the 1-2 themes you think I should unpack and focus on.”
Instead of obsessing over details, they'll help you synthesize.
“I plan to re-write this, but give it a read and let me know the 1-2 themes you think I should unpack and focus on.”
Instead of obsessing over details, they'll help you synthesize.
11. A draft is a sequence of answers to "fuzzy questions."
Look at each paragraph.
What question is each one answering?
Distill your draft down to a series of questions-- see which ones are missing.
Answer those missing questions to fill in the gap.
Look at each paragraph.
What question is each one answering?
Distill your draft down to a series of questions-- see which ones are missing.
Answer those missing questions to fill in the gap.
12. Look in between your Google comments.
Do you have a streak of paragraphs that have no comments?
This might be a dry-patch / dopamine-drought.
If you have large areas with no comments showing interest or surprise, you should consider re-writing, compressing, or removing.
Do you have a streak of paragraphs that have no comments?
This might be a dry-patch / dopamine-drought.
If you have large areas with no comments showing interest or surprise, you should consider re-writing, compressing, or removing.
13. First drafts often have most of the ideas you need, they’re just severely out of balance.
Certain sentences deserves their own sections, while 80% of the draft is bloat.
It’s a game of “needle in the haystack.”
Which tiny ideas are worth salvaging?
Certain sentences deserves their own sections, while 80% of the draft is bloat.
It’s a game of “needle in the haystack.”
Which tiny ideas are worth salvaging?
14.
Write your first draft for yourself.
Write your second draft for a stranger.
Write your first draft for yourself.
Write your second draft for a stranger.
