The Resurgance of An Ancient Game Is Teaching Us A Fundamental Writing Lesson
Don’t worry, it’s got nothing to do with pickleball
Chess has exploded in the last couple of years.
Back in the 1980s, most people in the world couldn’t even name 1 chess player. Now, we see titans such as Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura all over social media. The online boom has even given rise to personalities like Levy Rozman (aka GothamChess) with over 4 million subscribers on YouTube.
Shows like The Queen’s Gambit with its exceptional storytelling pushed chess back into the mainstream, and the lockdowns from the pandemic provided a potent breeding ground for practice.
While I was playing a game the other day, a thought came across my mind…
‘What makes a great chess player?’
Skill? Creativity? Confidence in a position?
All of these things no doubt make the list.
But there’s one part of chess which great players possess that is also a skill of great writers.
It’s something that doesn’t get spoken about enough in the digital world, and I want to try and remedy that today.
It’s about a concept known as Pattern Recognition.
When you start playing chess, you learn a series of first moves known as an ‘opening’.
It’s relatively easy to memorise these first moves. But what happens when your opponent goes off the rails? They play some crazy moves you haven’t seen before. It completely throws you off your opening knowledge.
You have officially entered No Man’s Land.
Theory is gone and you rely purely on instinct. While you may not know the specific lines of a position, you can calculate forward. And if you manoeuvre your pieces in the right way, you can find yourself in a familiar pattern within the crazy forest you’ve entered.
The best chess players have incredible pattern recognition. They can spot when the right push is needed or if defensive reinforcements are required in the blink of an eye.
So, what on Earth has this got to do with writing?
You develop your unique style of writing by observing patterns in the world.
Whether it be between people, objects, concepts and more, the key to crafting words that hypnotise people is to help them connect the dots in a way they couldn’t do themselves. In other words - to recognize patterns.
I want to show you a few examples today, and give you my #1 tip for improving your own pattern recognition so your writing can continue to flourish.
Have you ever been to New York City?
You may have heard of a nickname for this sprawling metropolis —
‘Concrete Jungle’
Bob Marley used this term as a song title. Alicia Keys references it in the chorus of ‘New York State of Mind’.
Funnily enough, the term is thought to be a twist of the use of the phrase ‘asphalt jungle’ in Upton Sinclair’s ‘The Jungle’.
99% of people would never correlate New York to a jungle. Most would point out the distinct lack of monkeys or snakes roaming around the streets.
But that is where Pattern Recognition comes in.
If we choose to look at things on a surface level, the evident qualities shine through. However, we don’t think in literalities all the time. More often than not, we think in terms of imagery.
Take the word ‘jungle’.
Yes, it means a large area of natural habitation with tropical climate and creatures.
But what can a jungle signify?
Potential to get lost.
Filled with unexpected scenarios.
Claustrophobia.
When we peel the layers back and look at the symbolism of a jungle, it’s easy to see where the phrase ‘Concrete Jungle’ emerges.
New York displays many of these characteristics too.
Easy to get lost on the vast network of grids and buildings.
Filled with strange characters and unexpected events.
Claustrophobic… need I say more?
In this sense, it displays commonalities via symbolism to a jungle.
Let’s look at another example…
A volcano.
What does a volcano signify?
Unpredictability.
Danger.
Chaos.
What else can you think of that displays these characteristics?
My mind immediately jumps to a person who hasn’t got their values in order, or someone who rushes into arguments over nothing, causing it all to spill over.
So… why couldn’t I describe someone’s personality as ‘volcanic’?
What about a Rolls Royce?
Class.
Elegance.
Reliability.
I’m sure you might know a person who’s like this.
Could you describe them as ‘a Rolls Royce of a man’?
It might just work! It might not be for your palette.
But spotting these underlying characteristics and symbols of nouns and applying them to other nouns allows us to create unique imagery in the brain of our reader.
We act as a sort of neural tour guide, showing them connections they haven’t previously considered.
This is the origin of two, incredibly useful rhetorical devices:
Metaphor and Simile.
Both of these devices work due the principle of Pattern Recognition.
‘A heart of gold’
Think of the symbolism of gold:
Valuable.
Reliable.
Durable.
‘Life is a rollercoaster’
Fast-paced.
Changes quickly.
If you’re unlucky, you’ll get someone’s puke on your face.
It’s all pattern recognition.
“This is all well and good, Will. But how the hell do I start spotting patterns?”
My friend, the solution is so simple it still makes me smile.
Spend time observing the world.
When you’re walking through town, observe what is happening instead of staring blankly at the pavement.
Don’t wear headphones, but tune into conversations.
When you’re at Starbucks about to order your Caramel Maccafrappamegacino, don’t bury your face in your phone.
The more you observe, the more you can compare. And the more comparisons you make, the more interesting patterns you spot.
It’s our ability to bring together the underlying details of the world that brings us authenticity in our character and being. No two of us look at the world through the same lens. When you help others to connect the dots of an idea by giving them a unique image in their mind, you break through to them in a way that makes your writing totally memorable.
When we connect the dots, we connect to each other.
Will is now fully on board the What Makes Great Writing team.
That means the paid tier for this publication will go up this Friday.
He and I plan to add these things to the paid tier:
Storytelling classes,
Regular feedback on your articles,
Regular Q&A
It’s possible the archive of this publication will also be reserved for paid members. Haven’t decided on that yet.
Bottom line:
If you want the perks of a paid subscription for the best price, join What Makes Great Writing now.
Use this link:
"Volcanic" got me.
And thank you Will