# Johanna Rothman - Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer (Highlights)  ## Metadata **Review**:: [readwise.io](https://readwise.io/bookreview/20285517) **Source**:: #from/readwise **Zettel**:: #zettel/fleeting **Status**:: #x **Authors**:: [[Johanna Rothman]] **Full Title**:: Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer **Category**:: #books #readwise/books **Category Icon**:: 📚 **Highlighted**:: [[2022-11-02]] **Created**:: [[2022-11-02]] ## Highlights ### 1. Write to Think and Learn - Writing means you create new words. That’s it. Any other activity might help you prepare to write, but it’s not writing. ([Page 2](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=10&annotation=NV894UYU)) ^407929226 - When I write, I learn what I think by writing the words. The words I already wrote help me iterate on the ideas, refining what I think and checking that my logic flows correctly. I write-to-think and think-to-write. ([Page 5](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=13&annotation=5JJSLHI2)) ^407929227 - Set the context for when your ideas do work, and be explicit about when your ideas might not work. ([Page 10](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=18&annotation=JBP8NHGT)) ^407929228 - When we freewrite, we generate as many words as possible about one specific topic. We do not edit as we write. ([Page 10](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=18&annotation=Y4CW5DUC)) ^407929229 ### 2. Write Fast to Write Well - Create Your Idea Bank and Fieldstones ([Page 15](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=23&annotation=9A555A33)) ^407929231 - For many nonfiction writers, that cyle time is about fifteen minutes, or about 200-400 words. ([Page 28](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=36&annotation=LPN6XB8L)) ^407929232 ### 3. Write for Your Ideal Reader #### 3.2 Write About What Matters - Not all nonfiction requires that people change. ([Page 40](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=48&annotation=BTPERTYT)) ^407929235 - All three of these ideas—risks, benefits, options—invite your readers into your writing. When you write about what matters and speak your reader’s language, the reader is ready for what you propose. ([Page 40](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=48&annotation=6MFKFUMI)) ^407929236 #### 3.3 Organize with the Rule of Three - If you can’t think of three things that might go wrong with your plans, then there’s something wrong with your thinking ([Page 40](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=48&annotation=DFV6C2HJ)) ^407929238 - ↩︎ - One alternative is a trap. - Two alternatives is a false choice—a dilemma. - Three alternatives offer a real choice. In addition, it’s a way to create more alternatives. ∎ ([Page 41](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=49&annotation=JYJWDTSX)) ^407929239 #### 3.4 Hook The Reader with a Problem - People read nonfiction to see how they might solve problems. Start a piece by sharing the problem as a way to set the context, so the reader can see if this piece is for him or her. ([Page 42](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=50&annotation=KBX6SL6A)) ^407929241 - Here are three ways to hook the reader with a problem: - One Startling Sentence - Hey! You! See! So! - A story that shows someone similar to the ideal reader in a setting. ∎ ([Page 42](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=50&annotation=5P7NJUMC)) ^407929242 ##### 3.4.1 One Startling Sentence - One Startling Sentence consists of a four-sentence paragraph in this order: - First sentence: What’s the problem? - Second sentence: Why is this problem a problem? (Note: this is what matters to the reader.) - Third sentence: The startling sentence. - Fourth sentence: Implication of the startling sentence. ∎ ([Page 42](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=50&annotation=7QCEZ6D6)) ^407929244 ##### 3.4.2 Hey! You! See! So! - ↩︎ - Hey! get the reader to pay attention. - You! is why the reader should care about this issue—what matters. - See? is the one or two facts that you have—that no one else has. - So... is why the reader should care. ∎ ([Page 43](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=51&annotation=JZYWA8G9)) ^407929246 #### 3.5 Structure Your Piece with Logic ##### 3.5.1 Budrys’ 7-Point Plot Outline - Points 1, 2, 3: A character, in a situation, with a problem. These points set the context for the rest of the piece. ([Page 46](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=54&annotation=Q2E7NIBR)) ^407929249 - Points 4 and 5 are called “try/fail” cycles. In fiction, the protagonist tries something and fails. ([Page 46](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=54&annotation=UJFQAH6P)) ^407929250 - Point 6 is the climax of the piece. When someone uses your solutions, this is how they succeed. ([Page 46](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=54&annotation=KPN3A5AY)) ^407929251 - Point 7 is the validation. Since I suggest you finish the piece with a reminder of the opening, the reader feels satisfied. ([Page 46](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=54&annotation=PABLRH3P)) ^407929252 ##### 3.5.2 Three Possibilities - ↩︎ 1. Identify the current state, with any of the openings back in “Hook the Reader with a Problem.” 2. Explain three possibilities in the form of tips, ideas, or approaches that will help the reader solve the problem(s) in the current state. 3. Finish the piece with a new state that helps the reader reflect back to the opening. ∎ ([Page 47](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=55&annotation=6X3INBDL)) ^407929254 - What if you only have two possibilities? Add a third section explaining when your ideas won’t work. ([Page 48](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=56&annotation=PCM76V8L)) ^407929255 - What if you have nine possibilities? Some possibilities: - Write one article with three groups of three possibilities. - Write three articles, each with one group of three. - Write nine articles, treating each possibility separately. ∎ ([Page 48](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=56&annotation=9Q9DTKGF)) ^407929256 ##### 3.5.3 The Pyramid Principle - The Pyramid starts with this introduction: - Situation: Define the current state. - Complication: What’s the change? - Question: What’s the hypothesis or questions we need to answer? - Answer: State the solution. ∎ ([Page 49](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=57&annotation=CK6JUFBY)) ^407929258 ### 4. Edit Just Enough - When you edit, you make your piece more accessible to your ideal reader. That’s it. Not perfection, because there is no such thing as perfect writing. ([Page 54](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=62&annotation=A5N4ZD6W)) ^407929260 - Edit as soon as you think you’re done writing. If your editing causes you to think and learn, return to writing forward and cycling. Use that new thinking to write and cycle, continuing to integrate your thinking and learning as you proceed. ([Page 55](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=63&annotation=BT7BI8GT)) ^407929261 - Finalize your title to make sure the title fits your piece and attracts readers. ([Page 57](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=65&annotation=5RPWL57H)) ^407929262 Title last - You’re the writer. You always have the final say for long sentences and passive voice. Don’t automatically take a grammar checker’s suggestions. That said, the more passive voice you have, the more you challenge the reader. Readers might find it more challenging to read your writing. ([Page 60](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=68&annotation=F5KCCGBS)) ^407929263 - Here’s a guideline for sentence length. Are your sentences often twenty words or more? Consider splitting them where you see commas. ([Page 60](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=68&annotation=KCTDLIPM)) ^407929264 - Simplify your language wherever possible. Don’t write down to readers, but make it easy for your readers to understand. ([Page 63](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=71&annotation=53YRF4GC)) ^407929265 - Use the Rule of Three as an idea. Cut a third of the: words, sentences, or paragraphs.…First cut a third of the paragraphs. Then, a third of the sentences. Then a third of the words. ([Page 66](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=74&annotation=TT9US9PE)) ^407929266 - Start with the problem and the benefits for your title…Sometimes, you might use risks or surprise ([Page 70](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=78&annotation=B8VRNEQA)) ^407929267 - I use two analyzers to test my titles: Coschedule.com² and AMI, Advanced Marketing Institute³. ([Page 70](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=78&annotation=AUPL7TKG)) ^407929268 ² https://coschedule.com/headline-analyzer³ https://www.aminstitute.com/ - When in doubt, choose a title that describes your piece, not a title with good copywriting numbers. ([Page 71](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/FAVI79B9?page=79&annotation=HQ9HHTHA)) ^407929269