Trying to write more with the help of Ray Bradbury

Unrelated beetle I took a picture of in Costa Rica

Often, when I find myself lying awake on nights far later than I should, I put on a random writing or art tip video. Lately, I’ve been considering dipping my toes in writing fictional short stories, and I came across this video by John Matthew Fox on YouTube about writing hacks from Ray Bradbury. It was…intimidating.

He listed nine tips that ranged from creating a list of nouns to writing a short story every week. I’m not sure I’m quite ready to follow all the things on the list, but there were a couple I’d like to try moving forward.

1. Use the Jackdaw Method

Basically, the Jackdaw method is collecting nouns I like into a list that I can take from for story inspiration. I am not so much committed to this one, but I figure it would be good practice either way, and who knows, it may show itself to be useful in the future.

1. Quantity creates quality

This is the tip that outlines writing a short story every week. With the first day being the first draft, and a new draft being a subsequent day thereafter. On the 6th day, I will submit my piece to a journal, or in my case, if it’s an article, I will post it here on Substack. I’m really hoping this will help me build my writing speed and work on just starting.

1. Writers should collect metaphors

This involves finding moments and events and trying to transform potential meaning into fiction. I’m not exactly sure how to tackle this one, but it at least opened my eyes and mind to the possibilities. Just yesterday, I was thinking about how English Ivy is beautiful, but incredibly invasive and chokes out other life around it. It even fells trees with its encroachment. I feel like there is something there.

1. Three things every writer should read nightly

For 1000 nights, a writer should read a short story, an essay, and poetry, says Ray Bradbury. I’m probably most excited for this one. I’ve been getting back into reading and, finally, after trying multiple times, picking up and putting down books. Starting and not finishing them, it feels like my brain is processing the information. I’m not reading as fast as I used to, but for the stories that really catch my attention, I am picking them up more. For each, I want to try to expand my stories to different places and countries. At one point, I had attempted a project where I would read a book from every country. I never finished, but I did get exposed to some really interesting tales, and I’d like to try and do the same. Who knows, I might even pick up that old project one of these days.

I’ll also be making a list of what I’m reading in case anyone is interested, and I’ll update it monthly. This is what I read last night:

Poem: For My People by Margaret

Essay: Sloth selfies are feeding a booming wildlife trafficking trade by Fernanda Wenzel

Short Story: The Sniper by Liam O’Flaherty

1. Make a Love/Hate list

Often, my mind oscillates between a desire to write or illustrate, and for both, I judge my work as being passionless and not personal enough. Especially when it comes to my art, I feel I am technically skilled, but lack the feeling. Now in an area of AI-generated “art,” I look at my work more charitably, but I still feel like I struggle and am often scared to put myself in my pieces. So I’m hoping my Hate/Love list will help me in both endeavors.

1. Learn from the lizards

This is saying don’t think. Just write. Arguably, one of the most difficult tasks of mine is often the reason writing consistently is a struggle for me. So I’m going to try my best to commit to this idea and try to let my brain just put the words on the page.

1. Write about ideas

This seems to be partially connected to the Love/Hate list, but more focused. It involves the things I find important and themes to add to my story. However, on his YouTube video, Bookfox emphasises that ideas should appear organically rather than being the beginning of the story. I think I’m going to try out the Bookfox method.

1. Don’t be afraid to cut

This scares me, but it is also liberating in a way. I’ve been a little scared of short stories, and even as I try to write a short story now, I find I’m trying to cut as I go. I think I need to work on cutting after.

1. Three rules to live by

1. Get your work done

   1. Personally, this one hurts, but it’s a necessary hurt. I love to start a project. Finishing a project, on the other hand. That is the real challenge.

2. Shut up and drink your Gin

   1. I think Ray means to just stop talking about the project and do what you have to do to get the ideas just flowing. Or at least that is my interpretation. Not a bad Idea.

3. When all else fails, run like Hell

   1. Well, if I stop posting for a long time, I suppose you may have an idea of what happened.

I thought it would be interesting to give these tips a try, particularly focusing on the first 6. I also figure there are ways I can utilize this for my art and nonfiction writing. Because I’m trying to post once a week, in three-week intervals, I’m going to try to do the writing schedule with Wednesday as my first working day. I’m excited to get started and see where this journey goes.