A big picture - Patrick Shen shares the process on starting a documentary that’s planned to take 620 years to complete. Michael Lopp wants you to ask yourself how busy you feel. Gordon Michael Scallion created maps predicting catastrophic changes to Earth. Adam Mastroianni explains a series of studies suggesting people inherently imagine how things could be better.
How other people see things - Subscriber Jessica Richards recommends Anil Seth’s article on research on perceptual diversity in humans. Raabia Hussain crafts a manifesto for activism and creative work in telling stories about mental health, disability, and inclusivity. Subscriber Helena Hofmann points to a study by the Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity on The State of Inclusion & Equity in TV Writing.
Creative perspectives - Maria Brito looks at how to get better at what you do. Haruki Murakami discusses how forcing himself to write a first draft in English changed his style. Maria Popova explores how M.C. Escher questioned our “rigid faith in our senses.” Lawrence Yeo illustrates the Release Ratio to explain the need to feed the creative mind. Paul Graham argues that there must be a concept of good taste.
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Better writing together
Come find an accountability buddy in this week’s Write Sprint thread!
What’s a Write Sprint?
John wrote up an explanation, but here’s the short version: Set a timer for 60 minutes, close down all distractions, and do nothing but write until that timer goes off.
If you want to start a sprint, drop a comment in the thread saying:
What you’re working on (in whatever level of detail you’re comfortable with)
Your goal for your 60 minute write sprint
When you plan to start
Try syncing up with someone else’s sprint in the comments, or drop in on the thread to cheer other writers on!
Shout out this week to Sprinters Quinn Emmett, Damian Giampietro, Brian Matusz and Micah Sherman, who shared this after a sprint:
I just finished the rough draft of my pilot thanks to this thread!
Reading the room
Oh Highland, my Highland.
With a new semester gearing up, we wanted to make sure you’re aware: We offer a free full version of Highland 2 for students enrolled in university writing programs, including film schools.
All students need to do to get started is visit the Student License application. Once there, provide your full name, “.edu” email address, school program and valid student ID.
Instructors can use the Student License as well! Just apply through the same process. And if you’re looking to set up copies of Highland 2 in a computer lab on campus, send us an email to get the ball rolling.
Previously on Inneresting…
In case you missed it, in last issue’s most clicked link Alejandro G. Iñárritu breaks down how he outlines each scene on a notecard.
Other Inneresting Things…
Mike Pearl pulls back the curtain to reveal Mavis Beacon never actually taught you typing.
Take a virtual road trip through America, complete with local radio stations.
Hailey Wilson collects conversational prompts for everything from how to respond to an inappropriate question to how to say thank you.
And that’s what’s inneresting this week!
Inneresting is edited by Chris Csont, with contributions from readers like you and the entire Quote-Unquote team.
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🗣 Have ideas for future topics (or just want to say hello)? Reach out to Chris via email at inneresting@johnaugust.com, Twitter @ccsont, or Mastodon @ccsont@mastodon.art