How To Capture Your Life In Writing

What Gonzo journalism can teach us about writing and why it's more timeless than capturing your day digitally.
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[@emilygonzalez8569]

Reminds me of what Ernest Hemingway said: “describes a place when you’re no longer there, so you won’t try to write everything you see but the essential”

[@naive_person472]

Hi, I really like this quote! Thanks for sharing it. One question of mine though: do you happen to know where it is from, like the source? I'm trying to use google to find it but nothing clear is coming up 😅

[@sabinaradu776]

also a helpful philosophy for when taking notes in uni :D

[@emilygonzalez8569]

@@naive_person472 It’s from his book “A Moveable Feast” where he says that He waited before writing it, only when he was in Cuba did he start writing it.

[@shiven513]

I have bad memory, I can’t risk that lol

[@writeitdown2013]

That's a really interesting perspective. Yeah I feel like once the camera is turned on, everything becomes a performance, whereas writing is an introspective recollection of something real. Because it's a recollection, and not in the moment, writing doesn't need to be as much of a performance.

[@RCWaldun]

2nd this. :)

You remind me of those Tumblr posts that describe certain experiences that you can't describe yourself: the feeling you get when you see the sunset, or spending a cozy afternoon reading, or just what goes in your mind whenever you suddenly wake up in the middle of the night and you get back to sleep happily cause you still have hours ahead of before whatever you have to wake up... I don't know if I made myself clear, but your video remind me of that! ✒Here's an example to illustrate my all over the place comment: "okay but waking up in the middle of the night to soft rain and knowing you’ve got hours to sleep, when you’re toasty warm and comfortable and sleep has made you forget all your worries and you go back to sleep feeling as content as ever."

[@Solaire1]

You’re an authentically underrated guy

[@hayqahassan]

💯 percent agreed

[@TheBirdofInferno]

The main reason I journal instead of just taking pictures or recording is because I’ll never be able to see things the same way I do right now. Each day I (hopefully) gain more experiences, more knowledge, and more wisdom. I don’t want to forget the lens I used to see everything through so I can see how far I’ve come and how I can improve.

[@mnemosine4237]

I do for that reason too. And it helps me to see what was my priorities and worries at that moment by so much I focus on something in particular... It became a self-improvement tool.

[@madeleine8662]

this!!

[@TheDogMotherOfJen]

Has anyone noticed R C always wears such elegant sweaters and stuff?

[@LaurenLaass]

Yes, very Dark Academia-esque.

[@RitvijTiwari]

He's like a younger version of one of those tweed jacket professors

[@tijaplace9228]

Can relate with drawing vs taking a photo. I think it has to do smth with abstraction. As I draw or write about smth from reality, I filter reality through my own experience, which adds more emotions than I could convey with a photo.

[@Baskin20916]

I’d agree, once a camera is used a sense of “did I get everything” is correct like you said in the video. In writing describing a place or scene can be basically endless in detail. There is no box trapping your mind in a place where it feels as if you have to act in order to warp the reality you were in before the photo. Because in writing reality isn’t confined in a box of a photo. It’s confined by many pages, all describing a world at which you live in, in the finest detail. You have more freedom of description and reaction to this place, something you can’t get in one photograph. But one that you can get in many pages that have your words which provide that image in our heads. Not the image of a photograph.

[@chuucake]

preach!

[@chinmayihegde7686]

He romantacizes his life so much.......darn that's so awfully impressive.

[@anasdebbagh9373]

It’s also why writers used to write so prolifically because a camera wasn’t accessible through something that you could just sink in your pocket so they just sat down and wrote

[@yeobo]

i love this guy, i definitely relate to and understand this, there is a disconnect when filming, things need to be perfect, especially since VISUALS are the main part of it, then you throw in aestheticism, it has to look somewhat appealing it just all apart of it, and there comes the disconnect and anxiety. You are extremely correct about still being apart of the story whilst writing

[@samtrott776]

I have been journaling for the last year and a half (started January 2020) and only recently have I realized the value in journalism of my daily life as I see my evolution in writing and thought process through the pandemic snd my daily life in general. I also started journaling during the time I started reading more and I love reading entries about how excited I was about a certain book or reading in general.

[@moonemi218]

i never thought about it this way!! it's pretty eye opening, i was starting to write about my day on paper more but this gives me more reason to do so. all your videos are always thought provoking. :D

[@VerenaSatriani]

What a wonderful Monday because I could be here early.

[@theenlightenedarab8081]

Robin, I love how your intellectual journey is paying off. You worked on yourself so impressively. It's an indictment of the vulgarity of our age that Johnny Orlando would be more popular than the smart young man that you are. I'm dead sure if the chance permits you talking head to head, the guy who has always received private education of the highest quality in Canada, and the other owing much of his knowledge to his cultivating himself in the manner peculiar to the middle-class people of high culture in the golden age of the arts in western Europe of the past century. Then Robin will comfortably expose the fallacy of attributing intrinsic quality to private schools. Continue to be elite in your readings Robin.

[@isisatu]

A PODCAST! Literally what we've all been waiting for.

[@emilygonzalez8569]

I love to start my days with one of your videos! Always leave me with a lot of energy, thank you!

[@kevinmaaz-luther3486]

Man I absolutely love that way you speak, it is precisely how I feel my thought process is. I would love to talk to you about literally anything

[@aeiou1237]

I needed this video so much! Thank you seriously!

[@ntaglemusic]

I agree with you Robin, that writing serves as a more authentic reflection of an event. I am not however sure that I agree with you saying that recording these events in writing is any more of an accurate depiction of an event that just occurred. When writing, we also tend to describe events the way we saw them, which is just one recounting of the event, rather than an accurate recounting of the event. I think what's beautiful about writing is that it transforms what we have observed into something we process and therefore share. Writing allows us to see, and potentially others to see, events through our personal lens, rather than the objective event itself. Anyway, that's just my two cents. I also have my profs from undergrad to thank, constantly questioning my monologues on "reality" and the "self." I enjoy your work very much, great video as always!

[@andrefernandozen]

Typing or handwriting? I have been doing both for quite some time now, and although I love them all, I can’t figure out which one is the best way. Well, I don’t know If there’s actually a better way. Technology has made it way easier to write and have access to everything at any time. Pen on paper is more personal and romantic. I think that the really important thing is to keep writing, doesn’t matter how or where. But this digital x physical writing is something that’s been on my head a lot (and physical x digital reading too, for that matter). Do you have any thoughts on this? Thanks for the video! Great content as always!!

[@lesedintuli8974]

I should get back into journaling

[@bebitter]

Whaaaat I was literally just randomly googling around about Gonzo writers.

[@ciolocaphoto]

You warp reality the moment it enters your perception...

[@Adrianruper]

I found your channel by watching the "fear of solitude" I'm super happy i accidentally came across your videos, awesome content, it's changed the way i look at a lot of things. thank you.

[@morganeua]

So, I do agree. But I would also mention that writing is in itself a technology that mediates our experience. Language is learned just like talking to a camera. Excited for the podcast!!

[@readingwithlisha]

Could understand the concept of camera and portraying reality through the lenses because of your interview with Aquinas.

[@radioguy1667]

An alarm went off in my head when you said that there are things that there are corners of your imagination that cannot be reached through the medium of visual storytelling, and I still disagree with that statement. You did however give a pretty good argument as to why. Whenever I do want to film something bc of an inner feeling I have, I do feel a little detached behind the camera, so it actually is harder to capture the essence of the moment 100% (but, in my opinion, not impossible). I think in that regard, you have changed my mind, and writing it down is a superior way of doing it (at least when it comes to capturing things as they’re happening). I do believe though that any artistic medium can capture the full essence of a moment, with enough ingenuity. Writing, I suppose, is just the easiest way to do so within the moment.

[@CurlysCurated]

The Observer Effect is definitely applicable to creators, but I think the simple differences in mediums also plays a significant role. My journal is just different when I type it from when I handwrite it. Not sure what that mechanism is but it’s quite notable. I always found David Sedaris’s process fascinating. Small pocket journal to capture images, scenes, and thoughts in the moment as they occur. Later at the typewriter using those scraps to construct a narrative using the power of distance.

[@lowlevelsorcery8846]

this is so true. I try my hardest to capture my friends and their interactions, but the camera pulls them out of reality. it's a constant struggle to get good moments on film, maybe I'll start writing in tandem with filming.

[@Karenseiley]

I find it incredible that people can remember things in such detail that at the end of the day they can sit down and remember what went on. Unless it is a "big moment" or something of some significance i don't remember or can't recall it. Like sure I can remember that I had cereal for breakfast but the kind? Type? All those details are just lost to the void

[@iuseitToo]

Read DeLillo's "Americana"? Great novel about the power of visual images. I suppose that's been a theme in all of his work.

[@compostjohn]

This is really useful, thanks. I kept a small-scale diary as a teen, and then at the age of 18 when I started smoking dope I kept a detailed daily journal entry which I did pretty much religiously every day until I was about 35, when I started doing a daily blog entry, which I kept up for maybe 10 years. To cut a long story (!!!) short, I'm writing my autobiography and I've come across the term 'gonzo' and I think it fits my style. My early life did have a lot of sex and drugs, and I'm very good at 'oversharing'. I need to crack on with it. One of the difficulties though is that my handwriting is awful, and deciphering my scribblings is hard.

[@itstorisstory]

I really like ur videos !!!

[@milotj4866]

very interesting! I will have it in mind. I always find it difficult to balance being present and enjoying the moment and capturing these special moments with the camera, this might be a good alternative.

[@kino_verite]

I’m interested to see how much more you can use Thompson as a subject, concerned with writing.

[@lateboomer-bloomer]

need this...

[@yasminkayal8032]

Can u plz do a video like morning routine or a day in the life plz

[@zyad5365]

Intéressante vidéo 👍🏻 I totally agree with you. If we only capture our world with cameras we no longer gonna be able to articulate our thoughts or have mental clarity. I'm still quite awkward on camera personally 😅.

[@bhavyasingh4337]

you remind me of a friend that I have..the looks...but the personality is totally opposite... it's funny... anyway, thank you for giving me a new perspective... it's one of the nicest things that someone can do for me...I love your content...hope to see more of it best wishes from India

[@y0landa543]

thank you

[@CL-uc1kv]

Do you carry a small journal to scribble and then write properly on a laptop later? Or you do all your journaling on pen and paper? I keep a planner and track everything I do during the day, if there’s something worth journaling I usually just leave an asterisk beside it and journal about it later on my laptop. I find that I can’t write as fast as I’m thinking with a pen, and also I can’t journal in first person. Is it a think journaling in third person? Anyway I’m rambling, goodbye.

[@RCWaldun]

My notebook's only for writing reminders of what happened throughout the day. And yes, I keep my entries on my laptop. Organization is a lot easier that way.

[@aparcadepro1793]

Hi! I enjoyed the essay (as always), but I am conflicted with inquiries about the act of journaling itself -- how do I do it, exactly? Should I put it into a metaphorical sense immediately, or should I wait until after I write the "raw data" of my life to begin with? What should I record, and what shouldn't I?

[@patzmaru98]

I just watched Fear and Loathing. Crazy coincidence 😆

[@velja56ila]

Hey man, I really enjoy your videos. I hope you can help me with this. I would really like to start writing a diary, but my handwriting is so bad, that it looks like somebody threw a bunch of letters and they fell randomly on the paper. It just ruins my motivation to even start. I don't know if you made a video on this topic, but it may be helpful to many people out there. Thanks

[@kakashisenpai2663]

I've been keeping a diary for 4 yrs now...but still I'm not getting any better at portraying my thoughts on paper can I get some help!?

[@Heyyy2021]

do you have goodreads? interested in the kinds of books you read...

[@husgrnd2429]

It's also because emotions are communicated better through writing than visually. So when you read back on a diary, it's less visually informative but more emotionally informative. Which is more impactful and emotions are the essence of our experiences.

[@alexaagani]

haiii 🙌🖐️

[@ianmaykut8023]

Woah I’m early

[@shadazmi5402]

Let's start a book reading club sort of thing?!

[@syedraidarsalan4685]

Try taking a photo of your thoughts and ideas.

[@hestler2984]

Technology is powerful, you feel its power yet powerless when you know it true capilities

[@sabinaradu776]

strongly reminds me of the observer effect of quantum mechanics...

[@RCWaldun]

The collapsing wave function...

[@benwinstanleymusic]

This was really interesting, I'd never thought about it like this

[@kasianfranmitja5298]

Who are u really? Whats your story? Where do u come from and background?

[@amelie1524]

woah a lil early

[@cristiancaicedo8830]

"Que pasa gonzo?? estamos es robando!!" -Noticias Caracol

[@mirouu13]

Writing about how camera feels, lol.

[@raulbalabag3756]

Am I too early? Haahhaha

[@RainarAngelo]

We’re all early apparently 💁

[@Naturehack]

Voice typing is future no need to spell wasted brain space Writing down commentating recording diary maybe hiry

[@tamatera]

What Thompson says about film in the context of cinema is a cheap jab. Not many filmmakers would claim to be portraying reality. I think people who know what they are doing are making movies that are aware of this gap, therefore commenting on the very distance from reality with film - those filmmakers have a fascination and understanding in voyeurism. But also, trying to portray reality on film is silly in the first place as it is certainly better to explore abstractions than reality itself. On the contrary, if Thompson’s statement was on documentaries this is quite correct.