As I understand it, I think a big part of the promise of your approach is that you are offering a structured way to confront your weaknesses. It’s daunting enough when you know them. Harder when you’re unclear what they are. And harder still if you have no idea what to do about them.
There is so much in this that I agree with - thank you for put it so clearly.
I have worked with writers for many years and it is so much easier to give 'starting' advice than how to 'keep going'. This is where the insight bias come in and the concept of disfluency (subject of my next book). Writing craft, or indeed any form of mastery is hard. Telling people to find their flow can actually do more damage as their expectations get challenged, they doubt their abilities and give up prematurely when it gets hard.
I’ve been subscribed for a while but it’s so great to see and hear what you actually sound like. This is the nerdiest way of thinking about writing I’ve had the pleasure of listening to. Thanks Michael.
I loved your “How I Write” episode, Michael. I also really resonate with the idea of “productive friction” you outlined here - often times I find that coming up with the idea and bashing out the first draft is the funnest bit, whereas the rewrite and the refinement are much harder - harder in a good way.
What I like about your approach is that you have patterns of values to go back to and reference—but you’re also dynamically driving forward and testing those assumptions with difficult questions.
Friction shouldn’t be seen as an obstacle but more a parachute. Jumping out of a plane (I’m told,) is exhilarating, but smashing into Earth at a 120mph, probably not so.
I just watched your “How I write” interview and I love the way you think. You are right up my street when it comes to analyzing prose. I do have a question, though: what did you find out about the author’s voice? Where does that land on your graph? Have you created any articles on this subject?
…congratulations on getting the product out there brother…so rad…also forgot to answer questions…but start from scratch every day…at least on something…our minds need at least tastes on novelty…or attempts to get there…
As I understand it, I think a big part of the promise of your approach is that you are offering a structured way to confront your weaknesses. It’s daunting enough when you know them. Harder when you’re unclear what they are. And harder still if you have no idea what to do about them.
There is so much in this that I agree with - thank you for put it so clearly.
I have worked with writers for many years and it is so much easier to give 'starting' advice than how to 'keep going'. This is where the insight bias come in and the concept of disfluency (subject of my next book). Writing craft, or indeed any form of mastery is hard. Telling people to find their flow can actually do more damage as their expectations get challenged, they doubt their abilities and give up prematurely when it gets hard.
I’ve been subscribed for a while but it’s so great to see and hear what you actually sound like. This is the nerdiest way of thinking about writing I’ve had the pleasure of listening to. Thanks Michael.
I loved your “How I Write” episode, Michael. I also really resonate with the idea of “productive friction” you outlined here - often times I find that coming up with the idea and bashing out the first draft is the funnest bit, whereas the rewrite and the refinement are much harder - harder in a good way.
What I like about your approach is that you have patterns of values to go back to and reference—but you’re also dynamically driving forward and testing those assumptions with difficult questions.
Friction shouldn’t be seen as an obstacle but more a parachute. Jumping out of a plane (I’m told,) is exhilarating, but smashing into Earth at a 120mph, probably not so.
I just watched your “How I write” interview and I love the way you think. You are right up my street when it comes to analyzing prose. I do have a question, though: what did you find out about the author’s voice? Where does that land on your graph? Have you created any articles on this subject?
…congratulations on getting the product out there brother…so rad…also forgot to answer questions…but start from scratch every day…at least on something…our minds need at least tastes on novelty…or attempts to get there…