or, How a Trick from a New Journalist Writer Can Help Make Writing Easier - Tom Wolfe of New Journalism fame once wrote a story to one person: his editor.
This one really got me thinking, Graham, because while I have been working on this kind of personal, conversational style for a while, it’s really never been with a specific person in mind: my reader has been an abstraction. So I’ve been trying to think who this person is, and about the qualities that he has as a reader that might make him different than the others I might write to. I think I’ve decided it’s a buddy of mine named Mike, so my next piece, I’m going to write specifically to him, or rather, specifically with him in mind. We’ll see how that goes.
im about to cook so hard to Aunt Jenny she's going to love this prose.
I love you.
Just subscribed.
Well, thanks Jack! Hope Aunt Jenny loves it, too.
oh! i love this. graham, i LOVE IT! gonna pull this into the toolbox!
Thanks Kristin! Glad you find it helpful!
This one really got me thinking, Graham, because while I have been working on this kind of personal, conversational style for a while, it’s really never been with a specific person in mind: my reader has been an abstraction. So I’ve been trying to think who this person is, and about the qualities that he has as a reader that might make him different than the others I might write to. I think I’ve decided it’s a buddy of mine named Mike, so my next piece, I’m going to write specifically to him, or rather, specifically with him in mind. We’ll see how that goes.
I've often struggled to pinpoint one person to write to myself. Sometimes it's obvious, depending on the piece. But yeah, that one general person...
Glad you found yours! Let me know how it goes.
And thanks again for inspiring this post!
Great concept! Now to find the “right” person to address my writing. I might try to tone things down for Aunt Jenny.
I have it on good authority that Aunt Jenny has seen some things... She can take it!
Glad you like the post, Mary, and thanks for chiming in!