This Book Changed How I Write

[@Pranaysood1]

You're doing amazing work Andrew. Thanks a lot. You've made me rethink reading, writing and literature.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks for the kind words--that means a lot!

[@AsuraSantosha]

I've been slowly going through your videos and lately been thinking that I'd love to read some of the things you've written and for some reason, in this video, it clicked that we've actually been hearing the things you've written all along! Each video is essentially an essay you wrote. I wouldn't be opposed to hearing something more like creative writing from you at some point, but Im also just thoroughly enjoying you taking us through all these essays on essays and philosophy and poetry and stories and writing! Haha!

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks for the kind words--I'm glad you've been enjoying it all!

[@kennyt1m403]

I have many interesting stories in my head but I always struggled to write, I always thought that I was not a good storyteller as I cannot impart the experience of the story in the page, but today I realized that I was actually writing a summary of the story which is why they always fall short on page, forever stuck at writing an outline. The stories in my head use all types of senses from sight, touch, taste, smell and sound, but I never managed to translate them into words and yet I can do the other way around, this video enlightened me of what was missing, I can now understand what they meant by show don't tell, as always keep up the good work.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Yes! That's so awesome to hear! And it's a common thing--like I say in the video, a lot of people start out just writing summaries of stories. Now that you know what you do, you're way ahead of most!

[@timalley3906]

This is a meaningful video. Thank you for making it.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

You're welcome--thanks for watching it! This one was especially meaningful to make

[@scifi_indie]

Yes, I read this book years ago, and it does a great job of putting the reader into the 'spell of the sensuous', to demonstrate the ideas on writing.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Yeah, that's part of what I like so much about it: Abram does a great job of doing what he says what he should do, writing some really memorable vignettes

[@scifi_indie]

@@WritingwithAndrew yes, and great video and reminder, I'm going to have to re-read it after seeing this!

[@mikesmithz]

Wow! This video came at the perfect time for me. I've been thinking deeply about this subject for the last few weeks, and it seems I've been completely wrong about it. I had a view the total opposite to this video, I thought the brain only worked in abstractions and not with the senses! I thought about how the brain thinks about things we can't experience through our senses - like time, love, truth, and justice. So much of our thinking is abstract, and I wondered how we communicate these thoughts to ourselves and to other people. This all led back to my favorite subject, metaphors. I believe metaphors are a way for our brains to encode and transmit abstract concepts. We can talk for days trying to describe love in glorious detail yet get nowhere.. a good metaphor, analogy, or simile condenses pages of writing into a single sentence. I was under the impression that our brains think exclusively in abstract ideas only to have those abstract ideas converted and expressed through metaphors. Now I'm starting to doubt this logic, and I think I might be getting things completely wrong! Even though we have an inner voice, that's not really the same as thinking - even thinking visually isn't the same as thinking. We think in emotions and in logic, and those are extremely difficult to convert into words. This is why I feel as though metaphors are so powerful at converting abstract emotions into words - they allow a big concept and lots of data to be condensed down to a tiny sentence. I never even considered that our brains are exclusively powered by the senses, and this has given me something radical to think about. With my writing, I tried to always think about how I can convert the abstract ideas I have into sense based writing, but it seems I am approaching things from the wrong direction. Your video has given me lots to think about. I have spent the last few months (years, I suppose) trying to convert the abstract feelings I get from walking in the rain into creative writing. I have been failing miserably. No matter what I do, no matter what I write, no matter how much sensory language I use, I simply can not adequately get it down on paper. It's impossible. I'm trying to convert the internal, abstract feelings i feel into the written word, and it's just not working. The connection I have to the rain is deep in my psyche, and the emotion it brings up in me is overwhelming - I just can't find the right words to transmit that emotion, not to myself and definitely not to anyone else. It's the closest thing to "spiritual" I have ever experienced, so trying to covert a spiritual emotion into the written word is too big a task for my tiny talent. Hopefully, watching more of your videos and learning more will put me on the right path. Thank you once again for taking the time to make these videos! It's not just me but thousands of other viewers out there who have benefited enormously from your excellent videos. There simply isn't a better teacher or youtube channel out there, you are the best! It has been satisfying to see your subscriber numbers jump up over the last few months - 10,000 subscribers by the end of 2023 and once channels hit 10,000 subscribers they tend to get a boost from the KZbin algorithm and then jump up with crazy numbers shortlyafterwards. Hopefully, it won't be long before you have to do a silly video celebrating your 1 millionth subscriber! Thanks again for all the teachings, Prof!

[@WritingwithAndrew]

This really makes my day--thanks so much for the kind words (and generosity!) I think my experience when I first read the book was similar: trying to write about the things that, as you say, are more "spiritual" was really difficult, but I found more success when I stopped trying to tell people about them and instead focused on just sharing my experience. Readers will understand your feelings in the rain far better if you just invite them to stand in the rain with you rather than try to explain your feelings to them. At least, that's been my experience, both with my readers and as a reader myself. And thanks for the hype--I guess I should start planning that silly 1 million video 🥳

[@mikesmithz]

@WritingwithAndrew you see, this is why I love this channel! I never thought about just inviting the person to stand with me in the rain!! I've tried describing the rain, I've tried explaining my feelings, I've tried describing the rain using the most detailed and flowery language you've ever read....but I've never thought about just inviting someone to stand in the rain with me. It's the most difficult writing task I've ever attempted, so thank you for giving me a new angle of attack. If I ever get a version down on paper I'm happy with, I'll have to send it to you to see if it's any good. It's such a roadblock to me at the moment - I feel as though I can't write anything else until I get a perfect description of walking in the rain. To say it's driving me mad would be an understatement, lol. Thanks again, Prof!

[@WritingwithAndrew]

@@mikesmithz The simplest things can be the most difficult! I eagerly await news of your success!

[@Islaras]

❤❤❤

[@user-vc1km3es2z]

Finding your video in my feed feels akin to finding a forgotten $10 bill in my pocket -- I should've expected it, even still, I am delighted. My source of this week's Andrew-related delight is twofold. On the one hand, as a cognitive psychologist undergoing education, my conception of the mind, and by extension myself is being pruned to fit within the truly alienating, solipsistic worldview of the Mind being separate from the world. It is an intellectually painful and fundamentally needless experience. Videos like this one help me see that people who pay their attention to their own senses, and see themselves as not apart from the world are not just loonies, but can also be great thinkers. Second bit of delight I gleaned from this video came when I realized how good you are at walking your talk :) A video from 3 weeks ago, on using the particular to get at the universal came to mind. And here you are, giving, what I would argue, is the best case for abandoning the duality between mind and matter, and you're talking about WRITING. I am truly amazed :) Your work is a treasure and I cherish every bit of it

[@WritingwithAndrew]

That's really very kind--thanks so much! I am all for being the forgotten $10 bill 😆

[@ArtemHahauz-nm7bk]

In other words, if you're all humans, focus on the senses. Thank you, Andrew. I think your video's been quite helpful. Greetings from Ukraine. Keep up the great work.

[@chanderlieve2528]

This piece has moved me a lot, I feel like a part of my humanity was recognized by your work. Thanks a lot for making this video

[@WritingwithAndrew]

You're welcome--and thank you!

[@ormulyce]

I've watched about half of your videos. All are great and useful; this one gives a perspective I'd never thought about before.

[@thomasbeall5323]

Excellent, helpful video! Thanks! Your section on “The Intellect”reminded me of a quote by Jonathan Sacks: “Science takes things apart to see how they work. Religion puts things together to see what they mean.”

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks!

[@llukelcs]

This video made me think of how much I've heard people complaining of Tolkien's writing in the LOTR, how it is too descriptive and full people singing and reciting poetry, instead of driving a more fluid narrative. I've personally never understood this conplaints, since the author was literally building up a whole universe entirely made through language (making up languages just for this purpose too). I mean, as much as I loved the movie adaptations of the original trilogy (and I really did! have watched it several times), nothing created such a lasting image in my mind and my senses of a Mallorn tree, how it feels being in an entire forest of them, it's dancing colours and smells through the wind, as Tolkiens very poetical and detailed descriptions of it in The Fellowship of the Ring! The Lothlórien from the books are unmatched by any adaptions because of it. Because of his writing, it feels as if I've really been there myself!

[@alfredsams9059]

An inspiring and fresh new approach to creative writing , also it raises the level to a higher space by using phenomenology.. awesome, great keep on going with your insights.

[@leviwarren6222]

It doesn't hurt when you're writing about Oregon either (the Willamette River). I grew up and lived in Springfield and Eugene on the banks of that river for 31 years. If you're searching for an idyllic or sylvan muse, you won't find better than Oregon.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

You're not wrong--there are far worse places to study poetry!

[@thenatureofsketching4622]

That’s also the best way to paint or sketch nature, otherwise you will paint “ an apple” rather than what is before you

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Ooh, I like that a lot, thanks!

[@callmewhoever]

Bro, i use to just watch the vidoes that relate to me, now i watch eveything you drop. I dont even comment on videos but since i cant donate yet this is the least i can do to show my appreciation & support. Much of what u touched on remineds me of the poem "The Aincent Speech": by Kathleen Reain.(plz check out the poem, i know you'll like it, if u dont alrwady know it) Especially wen u touched on how we nonlonger use our senses but we're rather stuck in our head & therefore somewhat blind to the other world around us. Also wen u touched on how we experiance the wrold through out bodies n not our minds reminds me of Jean Peajae (pardon the spelling). Anyway. Good work. I really love ur videos n ill pray 4 ur channel 2 grow. Stay blessed Andrew

[@WritingwithAndrew]

I just read the poem--it feels like maybe I've read it before, but not for a long time if at all. Very cool--and right in line with a lot of the ideas here. Thanks for the kind words, too--they mean a lot!

[@depotemkin]

Thanks, sir 🙏

[@WritingwithAndrew]

You're welcome!

[@HansRüdiger28]

Hey Andrew, I Loved the Video! On the philosophy part I would only have to add, that the History of philosophy is obviously mich richer than Just Descartes. Hume for example already thought, as you explain, that all knowledge comes from experience. Empiricism was/is one of the great classifications in philosophy. Although IT needs to bei mentiones, that empiricism has Problems with many kinds of knowledge. For example the laws of Mathematics, the laws of Logic, Moral knowledge and knowledge of Natural laws necessities. So its Not so easy to say that all our knowledge clearly comes from experience. You probably already knew that, Just wanted to give some philosophical context that would Not have fit in the Video :)

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks for the added context! It's easy to beat up on Descartes, and, for all the horrors philosophers have wrought on rhetoric, I don't mind repaying the favor 😜

[@kithenry]

I think I should get transcriptions of your videos and turn that text into my writing style. 😶

[@WritingwithAndrew]

That's very kind--but then we'd miss out on your own unique flair!

[@dcle944]

What would the answer be to the question what kind of an experience you want to create for the audience? Like a visual experience or the sound experience? I mean we all want a full immersive experience for readers. So how does this help you approach differently from one piece to another?

[@WritingwithAndrew]

It really depends on what I'm writing--the shift is from thinking about what I want to say to what I want the reader to experience while they read. Then it's not just about ideas but about the selection of details and structure of sentences work to curate the right kind of experience for a reader

[@lakeshagadson357]

maybe i should follow your channel

[@noahfranks984]

I too live in Eugene lol

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Very cool!

[@amberstiefel9748]

this type of language also makes great training data

[@JeremyHelm]

Folder of time

[@JeremyHelm]

4:05 applicable to writing

[@JeremyHelm]

4:22 phenomenology

[@JeremyHelm]

4:34 describe rather than analyze

[@JeremyHelm]

4:54 he is by virtue of thinking

[@JeremyHelm]

5:10 but that there's phenomena. Encounter

[@joshua_tobler]

I feel attacked.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Oh no!