The vampire was enormous. He lowered his head to enter the room, turning his huge shoulders to enter the room

Being understood is a powerful thing

Technique #1: You are unique, but often you are not really seen

People look at you, but they don’t really see you

They see a category

People do the same thing with your writing – they don’t really “see” it

So, they don’t really get what’s in your mind

They “are reading about” your vision rather than being in it – and sometimes it’s not the reader’s fault

Sometimes we only “refer” to an idea or feeling rather than painting it – evoking it

Often writing seems like a hint of what a person feels, rather than showing us what they feel

It’s more like a person remembering an emotion than feeling that emotion for oneself

So, here’s the technique I recommend: I call it “Doubling-Up”

Every time you write a sentence that refers to something personal, complex, or significant, pause …

Don’t go on to the next ides – yet

Ask yourself: would my reader be helped if I made my point clearer – more vivid – more specific

If so, the solution is simple: Just say the idea again

–  in a new sentence

–     in a different way

It’s that easy

Repeat yourself – once, twice, even three times – before you go on

For example, let’s say I write this sentence: The vampire was enormous

And I worry: just how ENORMOUS this vampire is? What is they just think he’s six foot two?

This is a perfect time to double-up

I write out my first sentence

Then add additional phrases that amplify/clarify/specify what that means:

The vampire was enormous. He lowered his head to enter the room, turning his huge shoulders to enter the room

I’ve said the same thing twice – but now the reader can see it

I love to write in the mornings. I love to get up in the dark, before the family wakes, and wander into an imaginary world.

The second sentence clarifies the first

You can “double-up” any number of times

You can signal that you’re doing it

         The house has problems. The house is besieged by problems.

Or you can simply double-up with no signal – and your readers will still understand

My brother is afraid of driving. He can’t handle sitting in the driver’s seat.

Each time you “double-up” an idea, a sensation, an experience, you are helping the readers to know you

You are unique – it’s your duty to reveal that on the page