Write Stories (and Essays). Not Sentences.

Writing with Andrew
18 Jul 202319:12
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video emphasizes the importance of structural thinking in writing, contrasting new writers' focus on individual sentences with experienced writers' holistic approach. It illustrates this concept through a toaster analogy, highlighting the need for a clear plan and purpose in writing to ensure the final piece effectively serves its intended function.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Sentences are the basic unit of any written work, but focusing too much on individual sentences can detract from the overall substance and purpose of the piece.
  • 🎓 The speaker learned in grad school that writing style alone isn't enough; the content and purpose of the writing must align with the assignment's requirements.
  • 🔍 Peer reviews often miss major issues because reviewers focus on minor details like punctuation and spelling, rather than the overall structure and effectiveness of the writing.
  • 🛠️ A metaphor of building a toaster is used to illustrate the importance of focusing on the overall functionality and purpose of a project, rather than just the individual components.
  • 🏗️ Planning and thinking structurally about a project, such as outlining the necessary components of a toaster, is crucial for creating a functional and purposeful end product.
  • 📈 The difference between new and experienced writers often lies in their approach to structure; new writers focus on individual sentences, while experienced writers consider the overall piece.
  • 📖 When reading, paying attention to how a piece is structured can help understand its purpose and learn from experienced writers' techniques.
  • 📝 Planning your writing by creating an outline or mind map before starting can help ensure that each part of the work contributes to the overall purpose.
  • 🔎 During the writing process, periodically questioning the purpose of each sentence or section can help maintain focus on the overall structure and prevent unnecessary details from detracting from the main message.
  • 🎨 While structure is important, it's also crucial to recognize the value of elements that may not directly contribute to the main purpose but enhance the overall experience, such as a bit of music or a video in an educational setting.
Q & A

  • What is the main theme of the video script?

    -The main theme of the video script is the importance of thinking structurally about writing, rather than focusing solely on individual sentences or stylistic elements.

  • What is the analogy used in the script to explain the concept of structural thinking in writing?

    -The analogy used in the script is building a toaster. It illustrates the idea that focusing on individual components (like wires and screws) without considering the overall structure and purpose can lead to a well-crafted but non-functional device.

  • What was the speaker's experience in college that led to a shift in their writing approach?

    -The speaker received a lower grade than expected on a paper they thought was great. The teacher's feedback highlighted that while the writing was good, it did not meet the assignment's requirements, leading the speaker to understand the importance of substance over style.

  • What term did the speaker's teacher use to describe the act of using style to distract from a lack of substance?

    -The term used by the speaker's teacher was 'linguistic prestidigitation'.

  • What is the issue the speaker identifies with peer reviews where comments are limited to minor errors like punctuation and spelling?

    -The issue is that such comments overlook major structural or content issues, allowing flawed work to pass through the review process without addressing fundamental problems.

  • How does the speaker describe the difference in thinking between new and experienced writers?

    -New writers tend to focus on individual sentences, while experienced writers think about the structure and overall purpose of the piece, ensuring that each section contributes to the whole.

  • What is the practical advice given for developing a structural mindset in writing?

    -The advice includes reading with an eye for structure, creating outlines or plans before writing, and regularly reflecting on how each part of the writing contributes to the overall purpose.

  • Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of planning and outlining in the writing process?

    -Planning and outlining help writers to think structurally, ensuring that each component of the writing serves a purpose and contributes to the overall message or argument.

  • What is the significance of the 'toaster' example in illustrating the consequences of not thinking structurally?

    -The 'toaster' example shows that without a structural approach, one can end up with a beautifully crafted but functionally useless object, analogous to well-written but ineffective writing.

  • How does the speaker suggest using reading as a tool to improve one's writing?

    -The speaker suggests paying attention to how experienced writers structure their work, identifying sections and understanding the role each part plays in the overall composition.

  • What is the speaker's view on the balance between structure and creativity in writing?

    -The speaker acknowledges the importance of both structure and creativity, suggesting that while structure is essential for effective communication, elements like music and narrative can enrich the experience.

Outlines
00:00
📚 The Importance of Structural Thinking in Writing

This paragraph discusses the significance of focusing on the structure of a piece rather than just individual sentences. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about receiving feedback on a paper that was well-written but did not meet the assignment's requirements. They emphasize that while sentences are the building blocks of writing, overemphasis on them can lead to a lack of substance. The analogy of building a toaster is introduced, highlighting the need to focus on the overall functionality and purpose of the device, not just the technical skill in assembling its parts.

05:01
🔌 The Consequences of Overlooking Structure

In this paragraph, the speaker elaborates on the hypothetical scenario of building a toaster without a clear plan, resulting in a beautifully crafted but non-functional device. They draw parallels to writing, where focusing solely on the quality of individual sentences can lead to a lack of overall coherence and purpose. The speaker suggests that writers should think structurally, planning their work with a clear understanding of the necessary components and their roles in achieving the desired outcome.

10:02
📘 Developing a Structural Mindset in Writing

The speaker continues to delve into the concept of structural thinking, emphasizing its importance in writing. They discuss the difference between new and experienced writers, with the former often focusing on sentence-level details and the latter on the overall structure and purpose of the piece. The speaker provides practical advice on how to develop a structural mindset, such as reading with an eye for structure, creating outlines, and questioning the purpose of each section in one's writing.

15:03
🍞 Practical Tips for Structural Writing

In the final paragraph, the speaker offers concrete steps for incorporating structural thinking into one's writing process. They advise readers to plan their work before starting, to think about the purpose and structure of each section, and to consider the overall composition of the piece. The speaker also encourages readers to read and analyze the structure of other works to better understand how experienced writers organize their content. The analogy of building a toaster is revisited, reinforcing the idea that the ultimate goal is to create a functional and purposeful piece of writing.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Sentence
A sentence is defined as a grammatical unit of words that expresses a statement, question, exclamation, or command. In the context of the video, sentences are the basic building blocks of any written work, such as stories, poems, or essays. The script emphasizes the importance of sentences but also warns against focusing too much on them to the detriment of the overall message or structure, as seen when the speaker discusses the potential for 'linguistic prestidigitation' to distract from substance.
💡Linguistic Prestidigitation
Linguistic prestidigitation refers to the use of language in a way that is impressive or flashy but potentially deceptive or lacking in substance. The term is used in the script to describe a situation where the speaker's teacher criticized their writing for being stylistically excellent but not fulfilling the assignment's requirements. It serves as a caution against prioritizing style over substance in writing.
💡Peer Review
Peer review is a process where individuals in a group evaluate each other's work to offer feedback and suggestions for improvement. In the video, the script discusses the limitations of peer review when reviewers focus only on sentence-level issues like punctuation and spelling, rather than structural problems that might affect the overall quality and effectiveness of the writing.
💡Structure
Structure in writing refers to the organization and arrangement of ideas and elements within a piece of text. The script emphasizes the importance of thinking structurally, rather than focusing solely on individual sentences. It uses the analogy of building a toaster to illustrate the need for a plan and the integration of various components to achieve the intended function, which parallels the need for a coherent and purposeful arrangement of ideas in writing.
💡Toaster Analogy
The toaster analogy is a central metaphor in the script, illustrating the importance of focusing on the overall function and purpose of a writing project. It contrasts a beautifully crafted but non-functional device with a less perfectly assembled but fully functional one, highlighting the need to prioritize the end goal of the writing over perfecting individual components like sentences.
💡Technical Skill
Technical skill in writing refers to the ability to use language effectively, including grammar, punctuation, and syntax. The script mentions technical skill in the context of the toaster analogy, where the builder has excellent technical skills in wire attachment and screw tightening but fails to create a functional toaster, emphasizing that technical skill alone does not ensure the success of a writing project.
💡Writing Style
Writing style encompasses the unique way in which an author uses language to convey their message, including elements like tone, voice, and sentence structure. The script discusses the speaker's background in studying writing style but points out that an overemphasis on style can lead to 'linguistic prestidigitation,' where style distracts from the substance of the writing.
💡Feedback
Feedback in the context of writing refers to the comments, suggestions, and critiques given by others to help improve a piece of writing. The script discusses the importance of understanding structural thinking before giving or receiving feedback effectively, as well-intentioned feedback can miss critical structural issues if the reviewer is only focused on sentence-level details.
💡Outline
An outline is a plan or diagram that organizes the main points and ideas of a writing project into a logical structure. The script suggests that creating an outline is a practical way to begin thinking structurally about writing, helping to ensure that each section of the work contributes to the overall purpose and that the writing is organized in a coherent manner.
💡Serendipity and Discovery
Serendipity and discovery refer to the unexpected insights or ideas that can emerge during the writing process. While the script encourages a structured approach to writing, it also acknowledges the value of these spontaneous elements, suggesting that a balance between planning and openness to unexpected ideas can enhance the writing.
💡World Building
World building is the process of creating a fictional universe, including its settings, cultures, and histories. In the script, world building is used as an example of an aspect of writing that, while important, should not be the sole focus if it detracts from the overall narrative or message, such as character development or plot.
Highlights

Sentences are the basic unit of any story, poem, or essay.

Focusing too much on individual sentences can derail writing.

The author's college paper received a lower grade due to style overshadowing substance.

The term 'linguistic prestidigitation' was used to describe using style to distract from lack of substance.

Peer reviews often miss glaring issues due to a focus on sentence-level feedback.

Writers should think structurally rather than just about individual sentences.

An analogy of building a toaster is used to illustrate the importance of structure over individual components.

The author's invention of a toaster without a place for bread highlights the need for functional thinking.

Technical skill in writing is important, but not if it doesn't meet the assignment's requirements.

Planning and thinking about the overall structure is crucial for effective writing.

The importance of understanding the purpose and composition of a piece as a whole.

Examples of common writing issues like stories without plots or poems without insight.

The difference between new and experienced writers in terms of thinking about writing structure.

Practical suggestions for thinking structurally include reading with an eye for structure and creating outlines.

The value of understanding how experienced writers put their work together.

The importance of planning work before starting to write and considering the contribution of each section.

The analogy of building a toaster versus a microwave to illustrate the importance of understanding the components of different writing projects.

The conclusion that thinking structurally is key to improving writing and meeting the requirements of assignments.

Transcripts

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Writing AdviceStructural ThinkingPeer ReviewToaster AnalogyStorytellingAcademic WritingCreative WritingFeedbackWriting ProcessContent Structure