The Importance of Structure in Writing and the 'Shiny Dime' Technique

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This chapter explores the significance of structure in writing and its impact on the reader. The hosts illustrate the influence of structure through a door analogy and introduce the 'shiny dime' technique which emphasizes clarity by focusing on one main idea. They also share their approach of finding the right structure for a book by starting with the structure idea before considering suitable content.

Steven Johnson has studied LLM technology for over 35 years. His consensus? Large Language models and human creativity aren’t at odds. They’re at their best when they work in harmony.

Johnson has written thirteen books, many of which explore how tools and technologies expand what humans are capable of and transform societies. He created NotebookLM to help writers use AI to supplement their creative process — not to replace their thinking, but to amplify it.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to capture ideas without friction, how to seamlessly structure your work, how to leverage the element of surprise, and how to turn sheer information into unique insight — all while using AI, of course.

Ultimately, you’ll soak up Johnson’s 35 years of expertise and come away with actionable steps to make your writing process faster and your insights more surprising.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://stevenberlinjohnson.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevenbjohnson

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Steven-Johnson/e/B000APC0M6

Google NotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google/

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage?

Click here: https://take.writeofpassage.school/writing-sprints

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470