We unpack a popular YouTube video explaining the writing process.
There's something fun about digging into other people's processes. As a writer, you need to formulate your own way to get the words onto the page.
But checking in to get writing advice from others can help you refine what you need to do and add new wrinkles to your steps.
Today, I want to dive into this video from Film Courage that tells you that to write well, you have to write badly first.
Let's dive in.
The core of this video is about writing "awful pages on purpose" in order to get all the bad ideas and words out before you can dig into the good ones.
The idea is that it is a liberating concept that frees you from the shackles of perfectionism and just lets you create.
The theory is that if you let yourself explore, you actually find the core of the stuff you're working on rewriting,
Just like an artist who sketches before painting, writers need to get the "bad" ideas out to make way for the good ones.
Sometimes, this road is much harder than others. But the one thing that remains consistent for me, and I think a lot of writers, is that creativity is rarely a lightning strike of inspiration.
It's a slow, iterative process of refinement. And the video beautifully compares writing to an oil painting, where an artist layers paint, covering up mistakes and building upon what works until the desired image emerges.
That makes the process sound so classy - I feel more like a plumber trying to get all the shit out of the drain so the water runs clear, but to each his own.
Each iteration, no matter how small, brings you closer to your final vision.
As the video says, "Repetition is the mother of all skill". The more you work on a project, the more you discover.
Each time you revisit your work, you do so with a fresh perspective, uncovering new layers of your characters, your story, and even yourself.
It’s through this relentless repetition that you hone your craft and your story begins to take shape.
Finally, the video touches upon the depth of good storytelling. Like an onion, a compelling narrative has multiple layers.
It feels like everyone uses this onion metaphor, but I guess that means it's universal.
On the surface, there are the events of the plot, but beneath that lie the deeper motivations and themes that truly resonate with an audience.
You want to hit their core.
What made you write this thing? What idea did you want to get across to people? Find those things inside yourself and share them with all the readers you can -- connect with people and find your audience.
So, the next time you're facing a creative block, remember the lessons from this video. Embrace the "bad," trust the iterative process, and keep repeating. You might be surprised at the masterpiece you create.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
