WRITE THE DA VINCI WAY_INSECURE WRITER SUPPORT

Alex Cavanaugh’sInsecure Writers Support Group

No, not mirror writing ... unless you're left handed.

Why did Leonardo Da Vinci write in backward or mirror image style?
I never believed that Leonardo's writing had anything to do with secrets or mystery writing.

He was such a creative, innovative person, he wrote the way he did because it was easier and possibly less "messy".

Leonardo was left handed.

If you have ever watched a left handed person write you will see that in order to be able to read what they have written,

as they write it, they "curl" their hand around what they have written. This allows them to see what they are writing.

 So, I believe Leonardo simply devised the backward writing because it worked for him.

Truly a practical and ingenious way to write his thoughts quickly and without mess. 

And obviously, he had no problem reading what he had written.

That's it. No big secret and deep dark mystery.

Just a good example of how Leonardo was someone who could "think outside the box". 

As you must think outside the box if you are to write something original.

You see, even if the original novel you write does not sell, you have not sold out the most valuable thing you have ... yourself.

What made this illegitimate son of a peasant girl and a notary become one of the most famous artists, inventors and scientists who ever lived?

His energy was limitless when it came to asking questions and searching for answers, and he was the master of observation which led to more questions and discoveries.

He had an insatiable desire to learn as much as he could about everything he observed, and he took meticulous notes.

He even described himself as a "disciple of experience" which meant he learned from experiencing, experimenting and observing everything he came in contact with.

So must you be a disciple of experience if you would write "true" fiction even if it is a tale of utter fantasy. 

If the reader believes your protagonist, then she/he will flow seamlessly into the adventure no matter how fantastic ... if the logic of the heart rings true.

THE DA VINCI METHOD OF WRITING AWESOMELY:

1.) Curiosità.

Curiosità is an "insatiably curious approach to life and unrelenting quest for continuous learning". Great minds have one characteristic in common: they continuously ask questions throughout their lives.

Leonardo's endless quest for truth and beauty clearly demonstrates this.

What makes great minds different is the quality of their questions. You can increase your ability to solve problems by increasing your ability to ask good questions.

Like da Vinci, you should cultivate an open mind that allows you to broaden your universe and increase your ability to explore it.

2.) STEPS TO BECOMING A DA VINCI

 KEEP A JOURNAL -


Bring a journal wherever you go and use it often. Write your ideas and thoughts there. Try to write several statements a day that start with "I wonder why/how..."

   KEEP FOCUSED -


Observe according to a theme. Choose a theme and observe things according to the theme for a day.

 For example, let's say you choose "communication". For the entire day, observe every type and instance of communication you come across. You can then record your observations in your journal.

  OPEN THE WINDOW OF YOUR MIND -

Stream of consciousness exercise. Pick a question and write the thoughts and associations that occur to you as they are. Don't edit them. The important thing is to keep writing. This is also referred to as freewriting.

3.) Dimostrazione.

Dimostrazione is "a commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistakes".

Wisdom comes from experience and the principle of Dimostrazione helps you get the most out of your experience. Here are some ways to apply Dimostrazione:

   THREE POINTS FOR YOUR INNER COMPASS -

First, make a strong argument against your belief.

Next, take a distant view of your belief (for example, as if you live in a different culture) and review it.

Finally, find friends who can give you different perspectives.

   ANALYZE YOUR SIREN -


Analyze the advertisements that affect you.

Look at the advertisements in your favorite magazine and analyze the strategy and tactics they use. Find the advertisements that affect you most and find out why.

  FIND YOUR AUNTIE OR ANTI-MODEL -

 List the names of some people whose mistakes you want to avoid.

Learn from them so that you won't encounter the same pitfalls.

4.) Sensazione.

Sensazione is "the continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as the means to enliven experience".

According to da Vinci, we can best practice Dimostrazione through our senses, particularly sight.

 That's why one of Leonardo's mottoes is saper vedere (knowing how to see) upon which he built his work in arts and science.

Here are some ways to apply Sensazione:

Write detailed description of an experience. For instance, describe your experience of watching a sunrise in your journal.

Learn how to describe a smell.

Learn to draw.  Even if it is badly.

Listen to different sounds around you.

Learn to listen to different intensity of sounds from the softest (e.g. your breathing) to the loudest (e.g. traffic).

Live in the moment. Practice mindfulness.

5.) Cryptic.


Cryptic is "a willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty".

An essential characteristic of da Vinci's genius is his ability to handle a sense of mystery. Here are two ways to apply Cryptic:

Befriend ambiguity.

Not knowing something does not make it ambiguous! It is when you DO know something but its meaning is indeterminate.

Ask yourself questions that relate two opposites.

For example, ask yourself how your happiest and saddest moments are related.  You will be surprised at your findings.

Practice the Socratic method.

The goal with the Socratic method is to examine possibilities, and that is done by asking questions, not by giving answers.


Socrates was known (and criticized) for asking questions to which he didn't have answers.


The key to using the Socratic method is to be humble.

Don't assume that you or anyone knows anything for sure. Question every premise.

6.) SO YOU QUESTION ALL OF THE ABOVE -

How will this improve your writing?

Imagine your heroine can't remember when she hasn't been able to ...

A.) Taste colors
B.) Not laugh when exposed to lies.

Harmless right?

No, she begins to have indigestion and hysterical laughter in front of forgeries in the art museum.

She begins to earn a living until ...

the intelligence agencies the world over hunt her for her skill at detecting lies and

the terrorist organizations the world over want her dead.

Then, an old crone said she once traded the heroine those deadly gifts in return for her earliest memory.

Does the heroine want to un-do the trade?