Topics include chicken sexing, Deliberate Practice, hands-on learning and feedback, mastering the scene, including fundamental elements, pronunciation and writers' research, book advances and publishing, understanding publishing contracts and advances
Deliberate practice and consistent effort are crucial for improving writing skills.
Finding the right balance between structure and creativity is important for fast skill development in writing.
Deliberate practice involves focused and effective practice, seeking feedback, and continuous learning and innovation to become a better writer.
Deep dives
The importance of deliberate practice in becoming a better writer
Deliberate practice is crucial in improving writing skills. The podcast episode explores different ways writers can practice and improve, emphasizing the importance of consistent effort and learning from mistakes. It also discusses the idea of learning through apprenticeship, using the example of chicken sexing, where apprentices learn by repeatedly guessing the sex of chicks until they develop a subconscious understanding. The episode suggests that writers can benefit from having experienced mentors who can provide feedback and help them navigate the learning process.
The role of structure and form in writing
The podcast delves into the balance between structure, form, and creativity in writing. It highlights that while structure and practice are essential for mastering writing skills, the moments of inspiration or the 'muse' can also play a significant role. The episode draws parallels between writing and other disciplines, such as sports or chopping wood, to illustrate the value of consistent practice and form in achieving proficiency. It suggests that finding the right balance between structure and creativity can lead to faster skill development for writers.
The concept of deliberate practice in writing
The episode references the concept of deliberate practice discussed in books like 'The First 20 Hours' by Josh Kaufman. It suggests that deliberate practice involves focused and effective practice, rather than simply accumulating hours. The episode highlights that deliberate practice is essential for writers aiming to improve their skills and move from a stage of 'not sucking' to a higher level of proficiency. It emphasizes the importance of targeted practice, seeking feedback, and continuously learning and innovating to become a better writer.
The significance of scene mastery in writing
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of mastering the scene as a fundamental unit of storytelling. It recommends writers practice crafting scenes as a way to improve their writing skills. The episode suggests rewriting familiar scenes from existing books or movies as a form of deliberate practice. It also encourages writers to explore classic obligatory scenes, such as meeting the lovers or the hero at the mercy of the villain, and experimenting with different ways to structure and enhance these scenes to enhance their storytelling abilities.
The dynamics of book advances and marketing focus
The episode briefly touches on the dynamics of book advances and marketing budgets in the publishing industry. It mentions how book advances are categorized into A, B, and C lists, determining the amount of marketing support a book receives. Higher advances in the A list receive more resources and attention, as publishers have a bigger investment at stake. The episode also mentions the strategy of authors aiming for larger advances to ensure greater publisher investment in marketing efforts for their books.
Shawn and Tim discuss unconventional ways to become a better writer. Topics include chicken sexing, Deliberate Practice, and many other things. Also, Tim's now trying to track down a cadaver he can use.
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