By Andrea A. Firth

I’ve all the time wished to know the way a magician does the sawing a woman in half trick. I see her climb into the field, chat with the magician on one finish, and wiggle her toes on the different. Then I hear the thrill noticed and watch the magician break up the field in two. And I’m wondering: Why is she nonetheless smiling? The place is the blood?

Who doesn’t wish to know the way it’s achieved, what occurs behind the scenes, how the magician makes their magic? It’s greater than curiosity—it’s about being within the know.

Magicians are notoriously secretive about revealing their tips. However writers typically share the strategies to their inventive artwork with insights on their craft, course of and vocation.

Not like gifting away the elements to the key sauce, writers have all the time discovered from the work of different writers—studying, analyzing and making use of that craft and know-how to their very own writing. Who higher to point out us the way in which than the author, herself?

Every weekday all year long, The Brevity Weblog publishes writing about writing (particularly inventive nonfiction) and the writing life. These essays get hundreds of reads. Many different standard retailers for writers and readers, like Craft, Lit Hub, Electrical Lit, and Jane Friedman’s weblog, do the identical, increasing past CNF to fiction and poetry, too.

One of many first essays I wrote for the Weblog was about how one can title a private essay. (A subject that simply interprets to quick tales and poems as effectively.) I discover titles difficult. My background in journalism, the place titles summarize and are extra prescriptive, hadn’t proven me how one can make a title each linked and inventive. So, I did a deep dive into the titles of a few of Brevity’s greatest essays and investigated the craft the creator employed, like utilizing a single, particular phrase, or a particular picture, or an apt metaphor, or efficient punctuation. Within the Weblog essay, I included seven examples with clear explanations to point out the reader what I had discovered—seven alternative ways to title an essay.

However isn’t that stealing? Copy-catting? Received’t that strategy make your writing sound like the opposite writers’?

No, no and no.

Identical strategy, however the end result will likely be distinctive to me, to my voice and magnificence. Making use of what I discovered to my very own writing will inherently learn in a different way.

The “how they do it” essay is one in all many approaches you need to use when writing about writing, and titles are one of many lots of of potential matters to discover. Previously month on the Weblog, we’ve printed essays on why taking a pause out of your memoir may be generative; how closure will get in the way in which of making good work; and what to do when a star blurbs your guide after which publicly turns into disgraced. The essays’ types vary from lyric to contemplative, conversational, and humorous.

Why write about writing and the writing life?

One, as a result of you may—whether or not you’re rising, skilled, printed or not, you may write about your inventive work and life. If you happen to’re struggling to establish what to put in writing about, you want solely look so far as the mirror. The writing kind will likely be essay, however the content material can relate to any style.

Most significantly, these essays are a solution to:

• Share what you understand—it’s an act of literary citizenship
• Set up your experience and assist your work as a instructor, editor or writer
• Provoke thought or problem a name to motion
• Have interaction with the literary group and be a part of the dialog
• GET PUBLISHED

Like with all of your work, essays on writing should be a good suggestion, absolutely explored and supported with nice craft. Don’t submit an early draft—workshop and revise ’til the essay shines. Examine the venues you could have your eye on for lists of “matters we’ve already heard lots” and “matters we’d like to listen to extra about.” Write with respect and perceive your privilege.

Whereas writing about writing is extra about what you give than what you get, each time I publish an essay about writing or my life as a author, folks subscribe to my Substack publication, share supportive feedback, go to my web site, specific curiosity in a category I’m instructing, or ship a chatty e mail. My group expands and my platform grows—each time. Incremental, regular progress which evokes me to maintain writing—and good causes so that you can get to work on these essays too.

Again to that girl being sawed in half. I did some digging and located a YouTube video  the place the enduring magicians Penn and Teller stroll by way of the steps behind that trick—a particular field, a well timed distraction, and … Spoiler Alert! True to kind, the magician duo by no means divulges how the trick is finished—however do watch the video to the top, as a result of there may be blood!

__________

Andrea A. Firth is an Editor at Brevity Weblog. You possibly can learn extra of her writing about writing on her Substack publication Every part Essay!

Be part of Andrea on January 28^th for the CRAFT TALKS webinar Essays on the Writing Life: Tips on how to Write, Publish, and Get Observed. With examples from Brevity Weblog and different key literary retailers as a information, discover ways to remodel your writing expertise into printed essays that join with readers and increase your platform. Discover out extra/Register now ($20 early fowl, $30 common).

Tagged: literary citizenship, publishing essays, writing craft