The Simple Novel-Writing Hack I Wish I’d Known When I Started Out

About this video

• Video Title: The Simple Novel-Writing Hack I Wish I’d Known When I Started Out
• Channel: The Oxford Writer
• Speakers: [None specified in transcript]
• Duration: 00:09:33

Overview

This video introduces a writing technique called "borrowing from the future" to overcome writer's block. The speaker explains that when encountering a scene that's difficult to write, writers can insert a placeholder description and move on. This technique, supported by the Zeigarnik effect, allows the subconscious mind to work on the problem, leading to new ideas and maintaining writing momentum. The video also uses examples from art history and literature, such as Leonardo da Vinci and J.R.R. Tolkien, to illustrate how this method of deferring perfection and allowing for changes can lead to richer, more developed works.

Key takeaways

• The "Borrow from the Future" Technique: When stuck on a scene, write a brief description of what you imagine happening (e.g., "the bishop seduces the maid here") and then move on to the next part of your story. This creates a placeholder that your subconscious can work on.
• The Zeigarnik Effect: This psychological principle explains that unfinished tasks are better remembered than completed ones. By leaving a scene incomplete with a placeholder, your subconscious mind will continue to work on it, often generating solutions or ideas when you're not actively thinking about it.
• Maintaining Momentum: This technique helps writers avoid getting bogged down by difficult sections, allowing them to maintain a writing flow and avoid the "catastrophic" type of writer's block that can lead to an existential crisis.
• Inspiration from Artists and Writers: Examples like Miyazaki's "magical stuff happens here" placeholders, Leonardo da Vinci's reworked paintings, Nabokov's index cards for Lolita, and Tolkien's evolution of Aragorn from "Trotter" demonstrate how deferring final decisions and allowing for revision can lead to richer creative outcomes.
• Flexibility and Discovery: Borrowing from the future allows for emotional distance from the work, enabling writers to change their minds, explore new possibilities, and discover unexpected story elements.