Jared Hecht’s Post

“I don’t have to make magic 🪄 in the first ten minutes.” That’s what I’ve told myself every morning this week. I’m working on a particularly challenging project right now, and the way forward (if there is one right way) isn’t obvious. My client-friend and I have spent hours trading stories and talking about ideas (our own and other people’s), potential (and ideally novel) approaches to writing about this subject, what’s essential from the first draft, and what we can cut. We’re not quite there yet. We may not be for at least another week. THIS IS WHAT REVISION LOOKS LIKE. It’s throwing yourself against the wall over and over again until you break through. But it’s also sitting down and staring at the wall without doing anything. When I tell myself “I don’t have to make magic,” I’m giving myself permission to step back, reread, and think about the problem without immediately having to: - act - fix - write or - make a dramatic transformation. Of course, I’d be lying if I said my goal isn’t to make magic every time. But making magic (and revision in general) isn’t about a lightning strike ⚡️ or waving a wand. It’s much more like brewing a potion. 🧙🏻♀️ And, for better or worse, it takes time, patience, and trust that it’s all going to turn out well in the end…even when you can’t see the end. #writinglife #revision

"The old man was thin and haggard and deep wrinkles were etched on the back of his neck. His cheeks were brown thanks to constant exposure to the sun over the tropical sea. The brown blotches ran all over his face and his hands were rough and scarred due to the cords he pulled to tackle heavy fish. But none of the scars were fresh... Everything about the old man was old with the sole exception of his eyes. His eyes resembled the colour of the sea and were joyous and unconquered." I read this passage from Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea describing a fisherman weathered by a lifetime at sea. Here Hemingway is using an authorial trick to deliver us a lifetime of backstory in a few sentences. As humans, we love hearing specific descriptions. The more specific, the better. We also love being shown details rather than told them. It immerses us in the story. Hemingway could have told us the history of the fisherman, but instead he shows us through his scars and wrinkles. This made me think about the power of descriptive writing to transport readers to a specific time and place and reveal deeper truths. Descriptive writing is like the scenery on a stage. If you don't have the scenery, then the action won't feel as real. You may not think it, but even in business writing, well-chosen sensory descriptions are important. Inviting your readers to imagine what you’re describing helps them relate to and remember your ideas more deeply. So next time you’re communicating a vision, goal or challenge, don't just state the facts. Share the sights, sounds and textures that convey what’s distinct about the reality you want readers to enter and engage with. Show the pain of now, and the relief of the better future you're proposing.

Asking these 7 questions will help you write anything better https://lnkd.in/ePwm-PCW

Writer’s block. We all get it from time to time, professionally and creatively. But what exactly causes it, and how can we quickly overcome it? Jester did some research, and we’ve got some research. As it turns out, ultimately, the cause of writer’s block… is often fear. If that sounds strange or confusing, well, you’ll have to read this week’s blog to learn the truth–as well as some of our best tips to deal with writer’s block! Like we said, though: we all get writer’s block from time to time. So let us know in the comments how YOU typically handle it and get those creative juices flowing again! https://lnkd.in/d7PmPNyK

Asking These 4 Questions Helps Me Focus On What Really Matters Asking yourself these questions and writing them down can work wonders. https://lnkd.in/gAde4bFx

Writing a new chapter is never easy There are disjointed ideas… the words don’t flow There are backstories, knocking inside your head, waiting to be checked if they are relevant or not The main thing I’ve realised is to write them down so that you can start the untangling process

Reviewing Your Notes

If you write the problem down clearly, then the matter is half solved. Writing it down is always the first step.

Asking These 4 Questions Helps Me Focus On What Really Matters Asking yourself these questions and writing them down can work wonders. https://lnkd.in/gAde4bFx

How to Structure your Novel