Writing Examples

Hey writers,

Welcome back to Writing Examples. Last week, you learned how punctuation can change how your reader breathes. This week, learn the art of clickbait.

But first, an announcement:

This Week Only: Our Lowest Price Ever

By now, you've heard the news: the upcoming Write of Passage Bootcamp will be our last cohort ever. And it's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

So, we want our "Grand Finale Cohort" to be as accessible for you as possible. 

For this week only, you can come write with us for $3995 $2495. On Friday (August 30), the price of the Bootcamp will increase by $600. Don't miss out on this opportunity to come write with us.

*Record Scratch* So, You’re Probably Wondering How I Got Here

“Tyler gets me a job as a waiter, after that Tyler's pushing a gun in my mouth and saying, the first step to eternal life is you have to die.”

– Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
 

This is how Chuck Palahniuk begins his famous novel. No context, no introduction, no background — you’re thrown directly into a gripping scene. And just like that, you’re hooked.

This is a technique called in medias res, which means “in the midst of things.” You skip the warm-up and plunge headfirst into the action. Who’s Tyler? Why did Tyler get the narrator a job as a waiter? Why was the narrator looking for a job in the first place? Is Tyler going to kill our protagonist? What does that last part even mean: “the first step to eternal life is you have to die”?

In medias res transforms the experience of reading from a passive observation to active, detective-like participation. Dropped into the story with no parachute and free-falling through time with your senses tingling and no idea where you’ll land, Palahniuk compels you to deduce the events of the story, as you hunger for more hints on the next page.

In medias res means you’re gradually informed with flashbacks and descriptions of the past: you start the roller coaster at the top, then— 

*Record scratch*

Through glimpses into the narrator’s past, you can piece together how he got there. You see the flashbacks in the context of what you learned at the start of the story, and each scene reveals a new layer of this character’s motives and history.

In medias res is sophisticated clickbait. It affirms that the journey is just as important as the destination, and that the most gripping stories are those that throw you into uncertainty and ask you to actively participate to figure out what’s going on.

How I Write Podcast

Write Like A World-Famous Doctor | Peter Attia

“I’ll never forget the first patient whom I ever saw die.”

Sheesh, what an opening line, right? Peter has an outstanding resume: he’s a medical surgeon, a Stanford grad, and a longevity expert with 25+ years of industry experience — not to mention, a published author who has sold over two million copies of his book, Outlive.

In a nutshell, Peter is a prime example of what can happen when you share your expertise through writing. And he’s going to help you get started.

In this episode, you’ll learn how Peter wrote his first book — frameworks, strategies, how he packages industry expertise in a way that’s digestible for the masses — and how you can, too. If you’ve been burning to turn your expertise into a bestseller, this episode is for you. 

Listen Now: YouTube | Spotify | Apple

Thank you for reading Writing Examples. This week, forgo the introduction; try starting in the middle of the story to capture your reader's attention.

Happy writing,

The Write of Passage Team