✎ on writing on writing
Workshop: Read newspaper and magazine stories that have anecdotal leads followed by “nut” paragraphs that explain what the story is about. Notice if the level of language moves from the concrete to the more abstract. Find some stories about bureaucracy or public policy that seem stuck in the middle of the ladder of abstraction. What kind of reporti... See more
Roy Peter Clark • Writing Tool #13: Show and Tell - Poynter
exercises for the ladder of abstraction
How writers can move up and down the ladder of abstraction
Mallary Tenore Tarpleymallary.substack.com
To move down the ladder, ask: Do you have a metaphor to help me wrap my head around this? To move up the ladder, ask: Why does this matter?
I read a lot that was repetitive. I still felt like it was worth it. It took time to learn and absorb the material, especially the science, so reading the same thing ten times would drill that into me more. But also, that’s how you learn what is a cliche. You start to realize: Everyone says this, so I won't say it the same way.
Erika Hayasaki • Going From Idea to Published Book
when you learn about an issue and you see everyone is saying the same things about it, don’t say those things again
writers should live their lives in the form of a question
How to get better at capturing details during interviews (Part 1)
I read all this history, and archival newspaper clips. I really enjoy that. I wrote multiple chapters of history. But I ended up totally scrapping them. Later, I integrated some of that history into the book. But I basically tore up my first drafts.
When I’m writing early drafts, I start by laying out material I’ve gotten from interviews and researc... See more
When I’m writing early drafts, I start by laying out material I’ve gotten from interviews and researc... See more
Erika Hayasaki • Going From Idea to Published Book
an example of how to piece things together non-linearly: she started with history, then scrapped it, then made an outline and wrote factual stuff, then went back in and added some color, some story, some personal touch
get the name of the dog, or the make and model of the car, or the slogan on the T-shirt. In other words, always be on the lookout for details that tell you something about a person and their surroundings.
Often, these details open up points of relatability for readers.
Often, these details open up points of relatability for readers.
Mallary Tenore Tarpley • How to get better at capturing details during interviews (Part 1)
get the name of the dog — details are points of relatability for readers
The next time you do an interview, picture a box of crayons. Every detail you gather is like a crayon that you can use to fill your box. It’s unlikely you’ll use every single detail when writing your story, but if you don’t have the details to begin with, you’ll never have the option of coloring your story with them.
Mallary Tenore Tarpley • How to get better at capturing details during interviews (Part 1)
when interviewing, the details are all the crayons you can use (but don’t have to) in the story
Good writers move up and down the ladder of abstraction. At the bottom are bloody knives and rosary beads, wedding rings and baseball cards. At the top are words that reach for a higher meaning, words like “freedom” and “literacy.” Beware of the middle, the rungs of the ladder where bureaucracy and public policy lurk.
Writing Tool #13: Show and Tell - Poynter
LOL.