This week, we’re applying the framework we’ve been developing around attention to writing tips. We think it’s at least a little helpful to use unfamiliar terminology to describe very familiar occurrences. Unpacking familiar things can open a space for reflection, intervention, and improvement.
A quick reminder: there are at least three ways to shift or nudge attention: feature-gestalt, transparency-opacity, and figure-ground nudges, going in both directions. These are ways in which we nudge our attention into different shapes. We can use the proverbial forest and trees to summarize it all. Shifting into gestalt/transparency/ground brings the forest to the fore, whereas shifting into features/opacity/figure brings the trees to the fore.
Transparency, Opacity, and the Tyranny of the Blank Page
Almost everyone knows the subtle paralysis of staring at a blank page or screen. Here, we should nudge attention from opacity (the page) to transparency (the intention to put some meaning on that page). We’re usually aware of both of the page and the intention, but it’s easy to get misattuned and put too much energy into noticing the page and not enough energy into following through on the intention. When we “see through” the page, there are fewer opportunities to trip ourselves up.
How do we nudge ourselves from opacity to transparency? We suggest that before you sit down to write, have an idea of the first thing you’re going to do. Just a small, definite thing: a phrase, a sentence, or even just the first word. This brings a certain transparent quality to the start of writing.
It might help to remember that writing isn’t typing. You want your brain-wave to be in writing (transparency), not in the mechanics of typing (opacity). Of course, typing is necessary for writing, but a lot of writers lose their flow when they make typos, and then double back to fix them. Both of us can’t stand a typo-ridden page, but if this doesn’t bother you, consider just flaunting it, like a jazz musician who leans into the “wrong” note. You’ll get what you meant from context 99% of the time when you re-read. This way, you get to stay in the transparency side of things, not lost in the opaque details.
Figure, Ground, and Inspiration
Losing momentum is a fact of life with writing. For example, you’re half-way through a paragraph and you just can’t seem to get through a sentence.
One nudge that might help in this situation is the figure-to-ground nudge. Let your attention kind of “space out” and notice what’s around you. Instead of being so fixated on the sentence, the writing device, or the text, notice your workspace, the walls, the items. Stare out the window and see what you can pick up in the world outside. This helps reset our attention a bit. It calms that spiralling feeling. It also, ideally, feeds that unconscious part of us where the words come from with a lot of new information.
This nudge is really just a micro version of the classic advice for all creative work: if stuck, go for a walk. When walks are not accessible, think of this attention shift as a mini-walk.
Features, Gestalts, and Persistence
Other times when we get stuck, stepping back is not an option. In those cases, moving from noticing the features of a situation (details) to the gestalt (whole) might help. Instead of the sentence, notice the paragraph. Or instead of the paragraph, notice the flow of the argument, or the whole piece of writing and what it’s trying to say. It’s a subtle nudge, but it may be energizing. This one is easy to do in theory, but harder in practice than the figure-ground one. It’s subtler, but helpful.
In general, we think that the writing headspace has a certain forest-first, trees-second quality. Mastery of attention in writing depends on skillful fiddling. We can go too far in the trees direction sometimes. As we keep saying: attention is a mercurial thing. You shouldn’t force it unless absolutely necessary. Sometimes the exact reverse of these nudges is what’s needed, especially if we’re feeling scatterbrained. People are very different in terms of what works. There is no recipe for writing success besides knowing the ins and outs of your attention, feelings, energy levels, and the many quirks that we all have. Being aware of multiple ways to move attention helps. We hope you’ve found some of this useful.