Writing Is Performance - or it Can Be
I've had a conversation loop going with more than a few people about "types" of writing. Sometimes, writing is a performance. Other times, writing is about connecting without edifice. I think occasionally, people get the two confused, especially about when to use either.
The Soul of a Written Piece
Let's take this - this piece I'm writing to you. If it mattered a bit (or a lot) more, I would work on it more, throw in some examples, do all that "writer" stuff that writers do. But that's not the goal of my writing to you here. I write to you here for that other kind of writing: connecting.
A performance is a great thing. Cirque du Soleil is fascinating and fabulous and is built on a lot of practice, a lot of effort, mountains of production and presentation. Some of your best writing can (and should) be this.
Connecting in a more casual way (like this piece I'm writing to you) is about giving you an idea you can use on your own. There's no formula out there. It's just your ideas after whatever you read here that matter.
When we mistake the two, that's the trouble.
Do You Have That Friend Who "Tries Too Hard?"
You know what I mean? They are more thoughtful, sometimes to the point of it all feeling calculated. They tend to say exactly what they mean, which is fine, except you almost get the feeling that they're trying to set a trap or something.
Writing can feel like that. Content marketing is absolutely about that - or it can be. "I'm going to write this article that feels like it's stuffed full of useful information but Muahahahaha! It's really a piece to sell you on that thing I sell." You know?
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Big Budget or Indie Film?
I saw The Menu the other day, with Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult (played the Beast in the X-Men movies). It was a great film, well executed, and set almost entirely in one room. It felt intimate, though it was surely exquisitely crafted. It felt like an indie film, although it was stuffed with great actors you know and love and not strangers (to those who don't watch many independent films).
The Menu fits into that category of film that people lament "can't get made in Hollywood these days," though it was exactly that. Ditto "The Outfit" from a year or so ago. But I get it. The illusion cast by both of these movies are that they are small, intimate.
Avatar: The Way of Water is mind-blowing. The effects and the technology that is on display literally broke technology in theaters because it was so high-definition. It's clearly a massive budget box office film. (It's also already the 7th top grossing film of all time, after only eight weeks on the market.)
The mistake you might make when thinking about your writing is to think one of these methods is more valuable than the other. They're not. They're just different. They're like the difference between a multi-course chef meal and a damned good burger. (IYKYK.)
Maybe Think About the Intent
One of my 3 words for 2022 was "co-create." The idea was that every time I went into an experience with other people (including writing), I'd ask myself, "What kind of outcome would I like to co-create with the participant(s) of this interaction?"
What's the intent of your writing? Do you just want someone to understand what you're sharing? Or does this work have to be your "signature piece?" Is this your "O" or your "you get what I'm getting at, right?"
Because holy cats, sometimes, people really overwrite. ;)
Chris...
Thanks Chris. I feel like I have to write a production every time I post something in public, but really, when I just start and write what I feel at the moment, it kind of turns out pretty good. I usually only do that on my old obscure blog that only a few friends read. Maybe I ought to try it other places, because connecting is what I really like to do.
Nonfiction Business Book Strategist, Developmental Editor, and Co-Writer
2 年I used to be hyper focused on identifying and writing to an audience. When I do, those pieces are well written and informative and I suppose deliver "value" but man, even when loaded with live people stories, they seem super d-e-a-d dead in comparison to the stuff I write that is more thought experiment, or test balloons to see if anyone else sees/experiences the world like I do. So, it'll be interesting. Thing is, to do the later effectively you need to build some chops, not even so much writing chops, most people's writing is just fine, it's the thinking part that needs honing; the ability to see relationships between things and to empathize that is going to be the challenge going forward.
Communications / Community and Networking
2 年Love it - foundational for me is "who is the audience" - "what do you want them to take away" - write it in that context and deliver...AND don't over deliver - just enough is the trick / purpose.
Business Growth Partnership Specialist | AI & Digital Transformation Strategist
2 年If someone understands, great, but that for me is an egoistic goal - like trying to control the person on the other end. Keeping it simple and trying to communicate, surrendering and if it connects...let that lead me somewhere. Used to overwrite and control, now my writing is more of seeing what sparks interest, and conversation, then going deeper based on behavior and response and less on what I think is a great idea....in fact if I do think it's great it's usually not, because it's about me, not the audience (easy to say in hindsight). My best writing surprises me, so I improv more than script and follow the reactions to connect deeper if that makes sense.
Data Storyteller Specializing in Quantitative Psychology | Uncovering the stories tucked into the data margins that even the best AIs can't spot. | Data/Statistics + Psychology + B2B + Creative.
2 年Thumbs up on the choice of example. ??