Point #2 resonated the most deeply. I too write everything out (or try to) in one giant inspiration filled burst. Then go back and chop it up, edit, and rewrite the whole thing. Wild to see the actual % that makes it through!
It’s also heartening to see other writers use this same process.
I know! The 93% number surprised me too. It helps to remember that the process really starts after you slice up the first draft (and to never compare your first draft to your other final drafts)
Number 4 is cool, I wish Google Docs had this feature
Number 2 is true, but only when I really want to go hard. Eg. My latest 200 word poem about leaving my job started off as a 2,000 word first draft (ie. cut 90%)
- Give it a shot! After you do a phonetic edit, it sounds better out loud, and it's kind of tempting to record Substack audio voiceovers.
- Same, I've found main value of Google Docs is the feedback functionality (comments & suggested edits). I use Notion as my master doc, and send people individual Google Docs for feedback.
- Good point on 'only when you want to go hard.' There's definitely room for unedited, first draft content too. I think a spectrum is healthy. My essays are heavily edited, and I barely proofread my logs.
Reverse outlining, even just the short reference to it and explanation, was helpful. Going to give that a try. Re the video recording of life moments through glasses, I'm personally much more interested in someone writing about how their experiences are landing and being considered and digested by them than seeing the raw footage of their daily lives.
Also worth talking to Charlie Becker about the process.
Re: the glasses -- I see them as the inputs. You see what I see, but not how I process it. My logs (on my site) are the outputs -- you get a sense of how I'm reflecting on everything, but your blind to the inputs. Thinking about ways of combining the two.
This is great overall but your footnote about the mug reminds me of the time someone called me a weirdo because I like to add ice water to my coffee so I can drink it as fast as possible.
I don't get the ice-water / coffee combo (unless it's scolding) -- BUT -- respect for caring about the temperature of things. It's make or break. Another neglected field of folk science is pizza temperature.
Hey, did you know your video with a playback speed of 0.25 is peak horror cinema? It's anxiety inducing but so good.
If you play it backwards at 1% speed, it syncs up with the Wizard of Oz (1939 version).
Point #2 resonated the most deeply. I too write everything out (or try to) in one giant inspiration filled burst. Then go back and chop it up, edit, and rewrite the whole thing. Wild to see the actual % that makes it through!
It’s also heartening to see other writers use this same process.
Here’s a link to my most recent piece:
https://startupsocial.substack.com/p/the-purpose-of-creativity
If you have 5 minutes to give it a read I’d really be honored.
—Zac
I know! The 93% number surprised me too. It helps to remember that the process really starts after you slice up the first draft (and to never compare your first draft to your other final drafts)
Number 5 really landed for me
Number 4 is cool, I wish Google Docs had this feature
Number 2 is true, but only when I really want to go hard. Eg. My latest 200 word poem about leaving my job started off as a 2,000 word first draft (ie. cut 90%)
Link: https://leoariel.substack.com/p/why-did-amazon-pay-me-170kyr-to-update
- Give it a shot! After you do a phonetic edit, it sounds better out loud, and it's kind of tempting to record Substack audio voiceovers.
- Same, I've found main value of Google Docs is the feedback functionality (comments & suggested edits). I use Notion as my master doc, and send people individual Google Docs for feedback.
- Good point on 'only when you want to go hard.' There's definitely room for unedited, first draft content too. I think a spectrum is healthy. My essays are heavily edited, and I barely proofread my logs.
I really like your images. Super helpful in illustrating the concepts you describe. What app are you using to make them?
Thanks Jon!
For images 1 & 5 I used Miro.
For image 2, the links are in Footnote #6 -- you paste in text & it highlights automatically.
For image 3 & 4 -- those are screenshots of Substack & Notion (I use Cleanshot)
Reverse outlining, even just the short reference to it and explanation, was helpful. Going to give that a try. Re the video recording of life moments through glasses, I'm personally much more interested in someone writing about how their experiences are landing and being considered and digested by them than seeing the raw footage of their daily lives.
Glad to hear Rick. Here's a detailed writeup on how I reverse outline (WIP): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gSDA-sov5qB0pq-3-X0RkRneGnPYKR3V9pvDJLUIC7c/edit
Also worth talking to Charlie Becker about the process.
Re: the glasses -- I see them as the inputs. You see what I see, but not how I process it. My logs (on my site) are the outputs -- you get a sense of how I'm reflecting on everything, but your blind to the inputs. Thinking about ways of combining the two.
Now that you spell it out that is an intriguing premise as a creator and an experiment I would follow.
This is great overall but your footnote about the mug reminds me of the time someone called me a weirdo because I like to add ice water to my coffee so I can drink it as fast as possible.
I don't get the ice-water / coffee combo (unless it's scolding) -- BUT -- respect for caring about the temperature of things. It's make or break. Another neglected field of folk science is pizza temperature.
This is so cool! Love to see your thought process for editing, Michael. Thanks for the detailed write up!