Catch Good Ideas and "Write Wrong"
“Good writing begins with a great idea,” according to writer Brad Herzog, “something so compelling an agent can’t pass it up and so interesting readers can’t ignore it.” It’s the idea that captures readers’ attention first, so it’s your job as a writer is to “catch” ideas. He then outlined ways writers can breathe more creative energy into their work.
First, he encouraged writers to wonder out loud. “The pursuit of creativity is a positive thing in itself, Herzog said, “so be curious and tilt your head at the world.” Anything you encounter can be a possible topic for your writing, so don’t be afraid to combine ideas and don’t “fish” in the same spot as everyone else. He then suggested writers counter conventional wisdom by surprising the reader and find the real story. “Sometimes writing is about patience,” he said, “so let ideas percolate and don’t jump the gun when starting to write something new. He also encouraged writers to find the right angle, meaning find the right structure for your story and how to approach it.
Herzog then went on to turn some traditional writing advice on its head, advising writers to write “wrong.” Stay in your lane is conventional wisdom that encourages writers to brand themselves by picking a genre and sticking to it. But this is a very market-focused view of writing, he said, rather than a creative approach. Instead, he encouraged writers to “try a bit of courageous experimentation to discover what you like and what will make you creatively satisfied.” Writers are also often told to write what you know and while this may breed confidence, learning something new lets you convey it in a fresh way. “Try writing what you don’t know,” Herzog said, “because you never know where it’ll take you.”
Forcing yourself to write by setting a writing schedule and word goals may work for some writers, but it can also create writer’s block. “It’s much better to let yourself write by staying open all the time,” Herzog said. A lot of writing happens when you’re not actively writing, such as when you’re taking a walk or showering. The last bit of conventional wisdom he debunked was to start at the beginning. “Writing is divergent thinking but it’s taught in a convergent linear way,” he said. “This standardizes writing and sucks the creativity out of writers.” Start wherever you want, he advised. The trick is to get started.
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