The Hannah Frankman Podcast

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Ellen Fishbein: How Writing Should Be Taught in School

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Jan 16, 2025

Guest

Ellen Fishbein

Ellen Fishbein, a seasoned editor and writing coach, shares invaluable insights on writing education. She unveils her three principles: clarity in communication, having a clear goal, and the importance of editing. Ellen emphasizes the need to move away from traditional academic writing styles and offers advice for parents on nurturing young writers. Discover how simplifying complex ideas can enhance effective communication and learn about her innovative publishing projects, including the unique concept behind 'Memes Make Millions'.

54:56

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ADVICE

Three Principles of Writing

Prioritize what you say over how you say it.
Rehearse your message before writing and focus on clear communication.

insights

INSIGHT

Substance over Style

Style and word choice are secondary to conveying your message effectively.
Focus on rehearsing and refining your ideas before stylistic concerns.

insights

INSIGHT

Unlearning Nitpicking

Readers often skip comprehension checks and jump to nitpicking.
Prioritize conveying your message clearly before focusing on minor edits.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Revolutionizing Writing Education

03:38 • 18min

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The Power of Clear Objectives in Writing

21:14 • 3min

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The Art of Clear Communication

24:23 • 16min

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Nurturing Young Writers

40:30 • 11min

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Innovative Approaches in Writing and Publishing

51:38 • 3min

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#4055

• Mentioned in 9 episodes

The elements of eloquence

Mark Forsyth

Elements of Eloquence is a witty and insightful guide to the art of rhetoric, exploring the secrets of crafting perfect phrases and sentences. Mark Forsyth examines various rhetorical devices and figures of speech, demonstrating their power and effectiveness in communication. The book is structured around different types of rhetorical figures, providing examples from literature and everyday language. Forsyth's engaging writing style makes complex linguistic concepts accessible to a wide audience. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in improving their writing and speaking skills.

#14075

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

The End of Race Politics

Arguments for a Colorblind America

Coleman Hughes

#4713

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

• Mentioned in 55 episodes

Clear Thinking

Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results

Shane Parrish

In 'Clear Thinking', Shane Parrish provides a comprehensive manual for improving decision-making and personal growth. The book highlights how most people operate on autopilot, driven by behavioral defaults shaped by biology, evolution, and culture. Parrish offers strategies to recognize and capitalize on pivotal moments between stimulus and response, using stories, mental models, and a 4-stage decision process (define, explore, evaluate, execute). The book aims to help readers build self-knowledge, self-control, and self-confidence, and to make better decisions by balancing emotions with rational thinking and gathering high-quality information.

#143

• Mentioned in 105 episodes

On Writing

A Memoir of the Craft

Stephen King

This book is both a memoir and a writing guide. It details Stephen King's life, from his childhood and early writing endeavors to his struggles with addiction and his near-fatal accident in 1999. The book is divided into sections that cover King's life ('C. V. '), the nature of writing ('What Writing Is'), writing mechanics ('Toolbox'), his advice on the craft ('On Writing'), and his recovery from the accident ('On Living: A Postscript'). King offers practical tips on writing, including the importance of vocabulary, grammar, and style, as well as the need for consistent writing routines and ruthless editing. He emphasizes that good writing comes from within, driven by curiosity, wonder, and emotional honesty rather than commercial motives.

Ellen Fishbein is a full time editor who has worked with writers like Coleman Hughes, Shane Parrish, and David Perell. She and her team offer coaching via Writing.coach and publish short books via Altamira Studio.

Expect to learn Ellen’s 3 Principles of Writing that she wishes were taught in school, the importance of having clear goals before you begin writing, why we should first focus on being persuasive in our writing, and how to begin “deschooling” from the academic writing style. We also talk about how Ellen developed a love for reading and writing at a young age and how parents can encourage passionate children to fall in love with the process of writing.

Chapters:

0:00 - Ellen Fishbein

3:24 - Why is Writing So Important?

5:06 - The 3 Principles of Writing

13:30 - What Do we Need to Unlearn from Public School

18:44 - What Really Matters When it Comes to Writing

25:18 - Why is it So Hard to Distill What We Want to Say?

32:25 - Deschooling from Academic Writing

36:44 - Is There Utility to Learning to Write in the Way We Teach in School?

40:30 - Advice for Homeschooling Parents

45:45 - Ellen's Education and Writing Experience

49:44 - The Power of Encouraging Kids to Write