#152: Writing as Thinking, Writing Music & the Writing Paradox
3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on the Art of Writing
I. Writing as Thinking
George Orwell once noted the connection between the ability to write well and to think well. Essayist Paul Graham takes this idea one step further:
A good writer doesn't just think, and then write down what he thought, as a sort of transcript. A good writer will almost always discover new things in the process of writing. And there is, as far as I know, no substitute for this kind of discovery. Talking about your ideas with other people is a good way to develop them. But even after doing this, you'll find you still discover new things when you sit down to write. There is a kind of thinking that can only be done by writing.
—Paul Graham, The Need to Read
II. Writing Music
Discovering new ideas through writing is only the beginning. You may also want to present your words in a way that people enjoy reading them. American writer Gary Provost illustrates how:
This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety.
Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals — sounds that say, listen to this; it is important.
So write with a combination of short, medium, and long sentences. Create a sound that pleases the reader’s ear. Don’t just write words. Write music.
—Gary Provost, 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing
III. Writing Paradox
One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.
—Jack Kerouac
👉 For more writing tips, check out my article How to Get Better at Writing in 7+1 Steps. 🐘
Have a great week,
Chris
themindcollection.com