⧉ Small things
Welcome to the twenty-second issue of OVERLAP ⧉
Small things
I’ve been running a series of workshops — a writing accelerator — to share what I know with my colleagues. The first cohort completed the series in August; I mentioned our debate about jargon in a previous issue. The second cohort just wrapped up, and this time, I’ve been mulling over the power of small things.
When it comes to storytelling, small things make a big difference. A single moment or brief narrative can carry the weight of a complex issue, helping the reader grasp a much larger idea. Tiny details lend authenticity to a story, and many times, those are the things a reader will remember. Finding meaning in the mundane is a bit of a magic trick, but anyone can do it if they’re paying attention.
Many young writers are desperate to develop their individual voices. The smallest, sentence-level choices — word choice, punctuation, rhythm — evolve over time to become the big, nebulous thing we experience as a writer’s personal style.
Small things become bigger things, when you add them up. This email newsletter is always short — but the Buttondown dashboard tells me I’ve written more than 14,000 words in this space since February. Thanks for being part of this small thing.
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I’ll be visiting New Orleans for the first time later this month. What should I see, do, or eat? Hit reply to let me know your suggestions.
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Auntie Jess recommends:
Rice cookers. I’ve had a rice cooker for less than a year, and can’t believe I lived without one for so long. (I bought the one recommended by Wirecutter.)
Chebe bread. This Brazilian cheese bread is easy to make and extremely addictive.
Pumpkin spice bagels. You haven’t seen a checkout line until you’ve been to a Trader Joe’s in Manhattan. But their gluten-free bagels are worth the wait.
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Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear from you — hit reply or send a message through my website to share your favorite writing insights, travel tips, autumnal carbs, or anything else that’s on your mind. You can also forward this to a friend or two and invite them to subscribe. If you missed a previous issue, all the archives are online.
Until next time,
Jessica
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