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I enjoyed this article. Especially his discussion of writing filler text in scripts that would be ironed out later during rewrites. I see a nice correlation to writing software. Get it working in general and then go back and optimize it.



This is a well-known trick of writers though. You put something down that sucks, and it basically makes your brain think about it while you're not doing anything. Harlan Ellison talks about this too. It's why so many Simpsons episodes are parodies of films; you take the basic plot outline to a film, change up as much as you can to make it funny, and then fill in the rest.


I've never been prouder than when the new hire refactors my code.


I did something similar for a show script I had to write once (a spoof of a children's show). I got the original plot down, then worked with a partner to actually go back and insert the jokes we'd thought of while writing the first draft.

Worked out pretty well, though I don't have any awards to show for it.


write drunk, edit sober


Found that very interesting too! I'll try working around writer's block using that technique :)




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