See, that’s an example of style.
I could have just said: "And now let’s learn about style."
How can some people write so beautifully?
I think I've figured it out.
THREAD: The four elements of writing style:
See, that’s an example of style.
I could have just said: "And now let’s learn about style."
• Your voice
• Your presentation
• Engaging the senses
• Engaging the imagination
Ask your friends what it's like to talk with you.
Perhaps they’ll mention your:
• Tone of voice
• Sense of humor
• Eccentricities
• Viewpoints
In other words, voice is not your choice of words. Voice is your unfiltered self.
In later drafts, you can remove sensitive details.
Until that point, treat it like a confession.
It also happens when you try to "write smart"—using words like "plethora" or “myriad.”
If you don’t use those in conversation, don't use them in your writing. It's out-of-touch.
Style also engages the imagination.
I personally define poetry as finding evocative, unconventional ways to say meaningful things.
In that example, we're describing the effect caused by the hot day—as opposed to directly describing the heat itself.
The more steps you can be removed while still successfully communicating the meaning, the more "elegant" your poetry feels.
A. A first-order statement is a plain description of the scenario:
"The day was hot."
This is how we commonly talk.
"The day melted our popsicles."
The reader can imply that the day was therefore hot.
"Our popsicles melted."
There's ambiguity as to why our popsicles melted. But with a bit of *imagination,* the reader pieces it together.
To get there, we can describe an effect that is unconventional, counterintuitive, or witty:
"Even the bugs were looking for air conditioning."
—C.S. Lewis
In short, I personally define poetry as unconventional third-order descriptions.
One way to engage readers' senses is to be vivid.
To explain vividness, here are writer Venkatesh Rao's remarks on the vividness of author David Foster Wallace:
It's the articulation of the rarely articulated nuances of life—in a way that makes you remark, "Ahh, that’s how I'd put words to that feeling."
• Wait But Why uses cartoon drawings and analogies to explain complex topics.
• Maddox uses dark humor, crude GIFs, and videos to shock and entertain.
If so, consider using them. You want your ideas to resonate.
• Engage a reader's senses—paint vivid landscapes.
• Engage a reader's imagination—have them do a little bit of work.
• In non-fiction, try writing the way you sound. Your unfiltered self is a breath of fresh air amid all the online fakery.
—C. Robert Cargill
Follow me for more writing threads 2x/week.
See my past threads here: @julian
🍌
More from Julian Shapiro
More from Writing
The world's most valuable skill:
Writing effectively.
But colleges charge you 120k and still do a terrible job teaching it.
Instead, here are 9 writing frameworks that cost you nothing and will save you hundreds of hours:
1. Start with building your writing habit by leveraging @jamesclear's Four Laws of Behavior
2. With your writing habit down, study these 10 tips from the world's most legendary marketer: David Ogilvy.
3. Then, immerse yourself in the takeaways from the bible on business
4. Like to learn on the go?
Dive into the creative process of the world's best writers in these 10 episodes of the @timferriss show.
Writing effectively.
But colleges charge you 120k and still do a terrible job teaching it.
Instead, here are 9 writing frameworks that cost you nothing and will save you hundreds of hours:
1. Start with building your writing habit by leveraging @jamesclear's Four Laws of Behavior
Atomic Habits from @jamesclear changed my life.
— Dickie Bush \U0001f6a2 (@dickiebush) March 10, 2021
In Atomic Habits, James lays out the Four Laws of Behavior Change.
1. Make it obvious
2. Make it attractive
3. Make it easy
4. Make it satisfying
Here's how to leverage them to build a daily writing habit (\U0001f9f5\u270d\U0001f3fc):
2. With your writing habit down, study these 10 tips from the world's most legendary marketer: David Ogilvy.
One of the most legendary marketers of all time: David Ogilvy
— Dickie Bush \U0001f6a2 (@dickiebush) June 2, 2021
In 1982, David wrote an internal memo to the employees of his advertising agency titled "How to write."
And in just 10 bullets he put together a masterclass in effective writing.
Here's a breakdown of each one: pic.twitter.com/MxRYuQRLyA
3. Then, immerse yourself in the takeaways from the bible on business
Business writing is a superpower.
— Dickie Bush \U0001f6a2 (@dickiebush) June 8, 2021
But schools and employers do a horrible job teaching people to write.
In 1981, two advertising executives wrote a timeless guide for how to write in the business world.
And here are 12 of their tips you should staple to your desktop: pic.twitter.com/w0hh0qBOG4
4. Like to learn on the go?
Dive into the creative process of the world's best writers in these 10 episodes of the @timferriss show.
I've listened to every episode of the @tferriss show.
— Dickie Bush \U0001f6a2 (@dickiebush) March 3, 2021
And some of my favorites are when Tim interviews prolific writers, diving into their creative process to improve his own.
If you are looking to build a writing habit, these 10 episodes are a must-listen:
\u270d\U0001f3fc\U0001f3a7\U0001f447\U0001f3fc
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There is co-ordination across the far right in Ireland now to stir both left and right in the hopes of creating a race war. Think critically! Fascists see the tragic killing of #georgenkencho, the grief of his community and pending investigation as a flashpoint for action.
Across Telegram, Twitter and Facebook disinformation is being peddled on the back of these tragic events. From false photographs to the tactics ofwhite supremacy, the far right is clumsily trying to drive hate against minority groups and figureheads.
Declan Ganley’s Burkean group and the incel wing of National Party (Gearóid Murphy, Mick O’Keeffe & Co.) as well as all the usuals are concerted in their efforts to demonstrate their white supremacist cred. The quiet parts are today being said out loud.
The best thing you can do is challenge disinformation and report posts where engagement isn’t appropriate. Many of these are blatantly racist posts designed to drive recruitment to NP and other Nationalist groups. By all means protest but stay safe.
There is co-ordination across the far right in Ireland now to stir both left and right in the hopes of creating a race war. Think critically! Fascists see the tragic killing of #georgenkencho, the grief of his community and pending investigation as a flashpoint for action.
Across Telegram, Twitter and Facebook disinformation is being peddled on the back of these tragic events. From false photographs to the tactics ofwhite supremacy, the far right is clumsily trying to drive hate against minority groups and figureheads.
Be aware, the images the #farright are sharing in the hopes of starting a race war, are not of the SPAR employee that was punched. They\u2019re older photos of a Everton fan. Be aware of the information you\u2019re sharing and that it may be false. Always #factcheck #GeorgeNkencho pic.twitter.com/4c9w4CMk5h
— antifa.drone (@antifa_drone) December 31, 2020
Declan Ganley’s Burkean group and the incel wing of National Party (Gearóid Murphy, Mick O’Keeffe & Co.) as well as all the usuals are concerted in their efforts to demonstrate their white supremacist cred. The quiet parts are today being said out loud.
There is a concerted effort in far-right Telegram groups to try and incite violence on street by targetting people for racist online abuse following the killing of George Nkencho
— Mark Malone (@soundmigration) January 1, 2021
This follows on and is part of a misinformation campaign to polarise communities at this time.
The best thing you can do is challenge disinformation and report posts where engagement isn’t appropriate. Many of these are blatantly racist posts designed to drive recruitment to NP and other Nationalist groups. By all means protest but stay safe.
