Warning: Details can Make or Break Your Writing

This Is All Your Body of Work Is: A Collection of Details

Image: Still Life With Champagne Glass by Severin Roesen (American, 1816–1872)/Artvee

Practically a decade before I wrote the words you’re reading now, I wrote a series of op-eds for HYPEBEAST. I had pitched a few that didn’t make the cut, my favorite of which was entitled, “God is in the Details.” I wanted to cover how typography could make people think differently.

The idea was interesting, and I got the green light to move forward. It was also ironic; in my lack of experience, during the research process, I selected details (examples, stats, etc.) that did not relate to the publication or readers.

In any case, I still look back and give myself credit. Even though I couldn’t make that particular piece live up to its potential, I was definitely onto something with my curiosity with details.

All Writing Is Descriptive Essays

Image: Christ In The House Of Mary And Martha (1643) by Bartholomeus van Bassen (Dutch, 1590–1652)/Artvee

Descriptive essays shouldn’t be divided from all other writing. All writing can be descriptive; the writer is pointing something specific out to the reader. It could be as simple as, “Check out the second plate on the shelf, in the room with…