In this bonus episode, we explore becoming a better writer. We’re joined by Verlyn Klinkenborg, author and Yale professor. We cover learning from farm life and work, finding rhythm in writing, and debunking writing cliches.
“So what I do now is essentially help students escape from their education. That's my enterprise every year. And it's always fun, because they escape quite readily. They all know that what they're making in their classes is an artificial product that doesn't actually have any particular interest for anyone except them.” – Verlyn Klinkenborg
EPISODE GUIDE (LINKS, QUOTES, NOTES, AND BOOKS MENTIONED) & TRANSCRIPT
https://www.outlieracademy.com/episode/18
CHAPTERS
This episode is our definitive guide to becoming a better writer. In it we cover:
(00:00:00) – Introduction
(00:00:35) – Rural life and the “home place”
(00:03:56) – Raising animals and eating meat
(00:09:20) – Learnings from farm life and work
(00:13.48) – Verlyn’s reading habits
(00:19:51) – Physical vs. digital books
(00:26:53) – Verlyn’s book Several Short Sentences About Writing
(00:33:01) – What is academic prose?
(00:38:21) – Why people should use shorter sentences in writing
(00:42:56) – Finding rhythm in writing
(00:47:01) – Self authorization and noticing the world around you
(00:53:38) – Writing cliches that are untrue
(00:58:16) – What to expect from a class with Verlyn
(01:04:56) – Writing is rooted in experience more than language
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