really sound advice! especially the 'finding your voice/ style' ones. as a (not super established) writer, i'm innundated by the message—that often sounds like a threat—to find our voice as soon as possible. it's nice to read that it's okay to take things at our pace and wait for our voice to emerge as and when it does :) thank you!
#2 (try moving sentences/paragraphs) and #3 (when in doubt, delete) both scare me, for similar reasons. When i revisit old writing it seems to me that its original conception is sacred, and if i try to mangle it in any meaningful way it will be stripped of its original emotional intent. The reader will be able to tell, it's "inauthentic" now, it will look like a youtube video essay where a person is talking and then it cuts to a different frame of them talking, it will remind the reader that this was edited, this is a project, this is not just me saying a thing. It will create distance between us, it will interrupt their immersion, it will make the whole thing feel "fake and gay" - and enough of these interruptions over time will cause the reader to lose trust completely and tune me out.
This locks me into a mode of writing which feels more like recording, or live streaming, where i've only got one shot at it and if i screw it up, that's it, it's gone. This, coupled with the fact that i have the greatest sensory recall in the hours or days following an event, forces me to write about things "as they happen," which often causes problems for my life. For example: girls i'm with will report feeling Watched when i go off to write about them the next day. I don't think anyone can help me with this specific predicament/hole i've reasoned myself into but if you have any advice i'd appreciate it.
This should get more likes because it's all you need to know, minus the bs from people who don't have the same amount of experience
This is all solid advice, all practical.
really sound advice! especially the 'finding your voice/ style' ones. as a (not super established) writer, i'm innundated by the message—that often sounds like a threat—to find our voice as soon as possible. it's nice to read that it's okay to take things at our pace and wait for our voice to emerge as and when it does :) thank you!
1st tip immediately helped some of my writing escape limbo, ty
Warmed my engines to read those. Nicely worded and packaged.
All of these are gems. Thank you, Tao.
Thank you, Tao. Solid and sage.
Thank you, it was enlightening!
Great list
Nini sleeps so soundly.
the music, yes
#2 (try moving sentences/paragraphs) and #3 (when in doubt, delete) both scare me, for similar reasons. When i revisit old writing it seems to me that its original conception is sacred, and if i try to mangle it in any meaningful way it will be stripped of its original emotional intent. The reader will be able to tell, it's "inauthentic" now, it will look like a youtube video essay where a person is talking and then it cuts to a different frame of them talking, it will remind the reader that this was edited, this is a project, this is not just me saying a thing. It will create distance between us, it will interrupt their immersion, it will make the whole thing feel "fake and gay" - and enough of these interruptions over time will cause the reader to lose trust completely and tune me out.
This locks me into a mode of writing which feels more like recording, or live streaming, where i've only got one shot at it and if i screw it up, that's it, it's gone. This, coupled with the fact that i have the greatest sensory recall in the hours or days following an event, forces me to write about things "as they happen," which often causes problems for my life. For example: girls i'm with will report feeling Watched when i go off to write about them the next day. I don't think anyone can help me with this specific predicament/hole i've reasoned myself into but if you have any advice i'd appreciate it.
“Friendly opening” . . . A Tao-ism for the ages!
Printing and editing by hand is such an underrated tip that completely transformed the way I see my work now. A hard copy changes everything.
Also, this is the second time I’ve come back to this. Thank you for this!
I love the starting with something friendly and ending with the strongest emotion 🥹
Good advice! I used to do #7 a lot and I still see it around me. But now, it's a no no for me. :)