I’ll translate this for you: Writing exercises 1. Create two characters with strong contrasting personalities. Force them into a confined space together and write about the conflict that ensues. 2. Start your story with a seemingly insignificant object and through the course of your writing show how it has great meaning to the characters and their past. 3. Write about a setting you have experienced that powerfully affected you. Describe your sensory impressions and how it made you feel.
New writer here. I realize this is an older post and find it ironic, but not surprising, that some comments suggest her generously shared insights are not helpful? I find her ideas nothing short of eye opening? Dozens of workshops, books, and countless creative writing youtube tutorials had my poor lil' so-called brain spinning. Reading 'Bird By Bird' saved me. Her book was EVERYTHING i needed to see my efforts in a new light and I was able, finally, to write with confidence. I hope authors of those aforementioned comments will come to see the light too. When, and if, they do... their world is gonna change :) Thank you Anne Lamott. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
Writers here would actually get helpful writing stuff out of what she said, hehe. I know a bunch of fantastic writers and when I ask them a question or they tell me a story, most of the time they ramble but I try to truly listen to what they say and fortunately, get gold from the conversation I've had with them.
Writing Advice by (name not given): 1. Have two people who don’t like each other get stuck in an elevator together, metaphorically 2. Write about something that’s really interesting 3. Don’t write about Converse, because that’s a copyright violation 4. Write about the house of cards coming down, but it’s in color like the Wizard of Oz, and that’s not always a good thing 5. It’s so much richer when you can’t understand the words (hi, I’m a writing teacher) 6. Take out the stuff that isn’t any good 7. Write something that isn’t any good and nobody would want to read
Sure, I'll try her book "Bird by Bird" *XD* Haha... But.. I didn't mind her rambling. (Or her hair.. Or that she was talking about church...) It was part of her experience. Examples of what she wrote about and how she edited it after. .
just a little constructive criticism. you should really try to speak a little more clearly. you came across as though you were mumbling which also makes it seem as though you arent confident about what youre talking about.
If she could follow one thought coherently to its conclusion, that would be nice. Perhaps she (like Asimov, whom I love) can only think clearly at the typewriter. lol
I think that can be true for some writers. Writing uses a different part of the brain than speaking... completely different results at times. The organization, the ability to edit, and so on...can help the writing to be more coherent and less tangential. I realized this about myself. Although I don't think I'm quite like the perplexing, hard to follow, nature of what she is doing...I do know I can be sidetracked (and interrupt myself) with side notes and off shoots...that I feel add to what I'm saying, as I speak. Nope, it only adds confusion 😂 I've learned, that anything important...where I really care about getting a point across, or want to be heard, I have to write it out. Otherwise, especially when I'm stressed, I feel I'm sometimes a few words shy of word salad 😬
why can't i get over the fact of the 'terrible rough draft' that has to change anyway. i just cant fathom doing something that doesnt turn out perfect or right the first time. if it doesn't ITS simply a waste of time. THAT is the stupidest most ridiculous kind of thinking. That is CRAZY thinking to imagine sitting down to write a short story or whatever and expect a million dollar seller right of the bat. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME.
Yes writing about a church serves, where you don't understand the language, sounds a lot better than when you hear and understand the mumbo jumbo & get fed up with it.
I am sure what she is says is interesting as can help many people. But it’s difficult to concentrate on that when she has that ill fitting weird hair. This ever looks good on white people. Sometimes style decisions people make just fail.
I’ll translate this for you:
Writing exercises
1. Create two characters with strong contrasting personalities. Force them into a confined space together and write about the conflict that ensues.
2. Start your story with a seemingly insignificant object and through the course of your writing show how it has great meaning to the characters and their past.
3. Write about a setting you have experienced that powerfully affected you. Describe your sensory impressions and how it made you feel.
not sure your translation translates the journey she is talking about
"I wrote a really terrible first draft, which is always the first assignment." The best insight in the video for writers of every stripe
New writer here. I realize this is an older post and find it ironic, but not surprising, that some comments suggest her generously shared insights are not helpful? I find her ideas nothing short of eye opening? Dozens of workshops, books, and countless creative writing youtube tutorials had my poor lil' so-called brain spinning. Reading 'Bird By Bird' saved me. Her book was EVERYTHING i needed to see my efforts in a new light and I was able, finally, to write with confidence. I hope authors of those aforementioned comments will come to see the light too. When, and if, they do... their world is gonna change :) Thank you Anne Lamott. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
😊❤
I came here for writing exercises that help you get going and what I found was whatever this is
sounds like you are a hopeless case
Bird by Bird is a must read for writers.
She is all over the place.. common affliction among writers. Her book Bird by Bird will rock your world, though.
+Austin Goyne I love Bird By Bird!
Just finished this book. It was inspirational
Writers here would actually get helpful writing stuff out of what she said, hehe. I know a bunch of fantastic writers and when I ask them a question or they tell me a story, most of the time they ramble but I try to truly listen to what they say and fortunately, get gold from the conversation I've had with them.
Boy, can she ramble!
Practice rambling. Got it.
Writing Advice by (name not given):
1. Have two people who don’t like each other get stuck in an elevator together, metaphorically
2. Write about something that’s really interesting
3. Don’t write about Converse, because that’s a copyright violation
4. Write about the house of cards coming down, but it’s in color like the Wizard of Oz, and that’s not always a good thing
5. It’s so much richer when you can’t understand the words (hi, I’m a writing teacher)
6. Take out the stuff that isn’t any good
7. Write something that isn’t any good and nobody would want to read
This interview doesn't do justice to her thinking. Read her books on writing.
This is how i talk to the homies after a few beers and a blunt
Thanks for the laugh homie
“Wait what was the question?” 🤣
Maybe. First. Write. Down. What. You. Want. To. Say.
I'm more confused than I was before watching this 😂
Sure, I'll try her book "Bird by Bird" *XD* Haha... But.. I didn't mind her rambling. (Or her hair.. Or that she was talking about church...) It was part of her experience. Examples of what she wrote about and how she edited it after. .
On a scale from 1 to 10, how stoned is she?
"This one goes to 11."
The comment section is lit 🔥😂. Didn't get anything from what she said..
What the hell is she even talking about?
Thats the question you ask when watching basically any of the bigthink videos
AM i THE ONLY ONE MORE CONFUSED THAN WHEN I ARRIVED?! D; --Heavy breathing-
Inspiring
Writing teacher: "I can't think of the word..." 😂
just a little constructive criticism. you should really try to speak a little more clearly. you came across as though you were mumbling which also makes it seem as though you arent confident about what youre talking about.
dreads
'Member that time you got sober and still had dreads?
Ha!
Did you say sober? 👀😅
What an eloquent person!
You can tell she's a writer and not a speaker.
Yet most writers are encouraged to be speakers.
Looks like, bird by bird, guano fell from the sky and onto her head.
Don't be mean, she is a goddess.
I’m at my fourth video of writing exercises snd I just found rambling people not going to the point
If she could follow one thought coherently to its conclusion, that would be nice. Perhaps she (like Asimov, whom I love) can only think clearly at the typewriter. lol
I think that can be true for some writers.
Writing uses a different part of the brain than speaking... completely different results at times.
The organization, the ability to edit, and so on...can help the writing to be more coherent and less tangential.
I realized this about myself. Although I don't think I'm quite like the perplexing, hard to follow, nature of what she is doing...I do know I can be sidetracked (and interrupt myself) with side notes and off shoots...that I feel add to what I'm saying, as I speak. Nope, it only adds confusion 😂
I've learned, that anything important...where I really care about getting a point across, or want to be heard, I have to write it out.
Otherwise, especially when I'm stressed, I feel I'm sometimes a few words shy of word salad 😬
pressing 8 over and over is interesting. kind of like she's dying.
ha ha
i actually did that! thanks for the tip. now my life is complete
Zailani Hamzah heheheh Sometimes you can catch a funny little movement like in some music vids. or someone who's very animated. hehe
Pressing 8 where, and what does it do?
computer keyboard. replays the vid from that % in. 1 = 10% into the vid, etc.
why can't i get over the fact of the 'terrible rough draft' that has to change anyway. i just cant fathom doing something that doesnt turn out perfect or right the first time. if it doesn't ITS simply a waste of time. THAT is the stupidest most ridiculous kind of thinking. That is CRAZY thinking to imagine sitting down to write a short story or whatever and expect a million dollar seller right of the bat. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME.
Yes writing about a church serves, where you don't understand the language, sounds a lot better than when you hear and understand the mumbo jumbo & get fed up with it.
What's going on here... need to get to the point quicker
I thought this was "Big Think" not "fangirl swoon over their relgion for 5 minutes"
Typical english teacher lol
"half is in Spanish - which I don't speak - and half is in English..." (which she also doesn't speak) lol lol
this is specifically about fiction, writing is a wider topic
Damn she look like STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
I wonder how many dislike this video has
Huh? What is she...? Where am I...? How did I...?
🐦/🐦
wtf is that on her head !!!
Those dreads seem racist to me
I can't past that hair. It's distracting.
What the eff is she on about?
This gal is an incoherent mess. She needs to stick to the written word because her oral communication skills are nonexistent.
Awesome that she is christian
Because?
I am sure what she is says is interesting as can help many people. But it’s difficult to concentrate on that when she has that ill fitting weird hair. This ever looks good on white people. Sometimes style decisions people make just fail.