What’s All This Then!

In an attempt to improving my writing skills, I’m reading “A Manual of Writer’s Tricks” by David Carroll. One recommended exercise is to write instructions on how to perform a task. It is amazing how easy it is to do something and yet incredibly difficult to explain to someone unfamiliar with the task all that they needed to do.

The book gives a few examples to get you started. So here’s my attempt:

“Explain to a Martian how a human washes their hands.”
This one is difficult. It assumes several things:
1- Martians have hands,
2- Martians need or want their hands washed.
3- Martians need or want their hands washed by humans.
For now, let’s just leave unsanitary Martians alone.

Next we have “Explain to a child how to frame a picture.”
Ah, this one is much easier. A simple to step process:
1) Have the child commit a crime.
2) Have the child find a picture to blame the crime on.

If the child has young siblings, there is really no explanation needed. He or she already knows these steps instinctively and has developed this process to an art form. All they have to do now is substitute a picture in place of their brother or sister. Some may even resort to a picture of their brother or sister.

Of course, there is a much easier way of explaining how to frame a picture to a child. As all experienced parents know, just forbid them to do it. The explaining part takes care of itself.

And so, there you have it. I hope that you will begin to see a marked improvement in my writing abilities soon. Once I accomplish this, I plan to learn how to read. That way I’ll know how well I’m writing.

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