David Foster Wallace's Favorite Writing Technique

David Foster Wallace is one of the most diverse writers in the world. He has multiple stories, essays, and books written in a massive range of styles. However, trying to master the 25+ styles that Wallace did would take decades. So how did David Foster Wallace shortcut his writing success?

Video detailing the results of writing "Blood Meridian" by hand

Transform your Sentence Structure with "Artful Sentences"

Discover over 100 of David Foster Wallace's favorite books and the three books he wrote with by his side below

[EricCastleman]

Ten years ago I had a critique set up with one of my favorite painters. I was worried that when he looked at my portfolio he would see that I had stolen his style, but when he looked at it he didn't even mention it. When I told him that I was worried he'd think I was a poser, he told me that he would have never guessed that I was copying him, and that that is because you cannot perfectly copy another artist without adding in your own voice. That stuck with me, and to this day it is a hard rule for using other writers or painters as guides in my own work.

[iuseitToo]

Ever read "Exercises in Style" by
Raymond Queneau? I think it`s
~60 stories and every story is the same story, but told from a different perspective and in a different style. It's a fun book. I read it some years ago but I remember really enjoying it.

[Bugtortoise]

I have an author that I use for revision. I wouldn't say I try to imitate him but I read a page of his work then revise a page of my work because I like his cadence and economy with words, and he is a famously published author and I am not. However, I have been doing this so long that I rarely need to consult his work anymore. When I revise, I just "put him on" for a few minutes then take him off and because I have gone through his works so many times, they have become a part of me. When I first started doing this I would type a page of his work then revise a page of my own. I moved on from that to reading two pages of his work and revising a page of my own, then reading one page of his and revising a page of my own, and now I just "put him on". I only do this for one or two revisions. When I revise all the way through, I am just myself. I'm the reviser-type.

[jimmyallen]

Music is so similar. I have learned a tremendous amount of music theory, but it can be difficult to apply fluidly while playing or teaching. Theory is a structure of understanding, but it does not lead you in the moment. I am sure for a savant it is different, but for us normal people music theory is an investigative tool applied in retrospect.

Simply learning a guitar solo by mimicking the original is so much more functional, and it is so easy to apply the same techniques and riffs to different keys. It gives you a copy of the original and a little tool box to take with you. Studying the little details and discovering the tiny decisions that make all the difference is so rewarding.

[tylerhamm]

I’ve been following your channel for a while now (specifically for McCarthy content) and have greatly enjoyed it…I’ve also been doing Jiu Jitsu for about five years and man what a colliding of worlds in this video hearing you mention Leandro and Mikey. Great examples and great techniques, will have to try them soon

[Bugtortoise]

I noticed that just reading Blood Meridian ALOUD versus silently, affected my description and fluidity of description in front of the keyboard. I think I may try typing it out. Thanks for that.

[PEGGLORE]

No. I'll write the greatest true story of all time, without any knowledge and influence of any other authors to debase and pollute my writings. True originality in Literature.

[sillythekid]

Wow. Hearing you're last couple videos I'm feeling like I got really mislead & played when I in college at the writing workshops I did. I submitted some stories where I was trying to just basically mimic some authors i like writing styles & use it to tell my story. But anyone who recognized what I was doing didn't like it, including the professor who told me not to & develope my own style instead of trying to copy a "master". Looking back now it seeme like those, sitting in a circle workshop experiences put me off of writing more than anything & ever since I never tried mimicking famous authors when I did write. You are a really good teacher Ian.

[angelagilmartin]

Does anyone remember the author Ian suggested one should read for learning close 3rd person POV? I've binged so many of his vids but I didn't take notes...urgh...

[arcadianguitars]

I know this probably isn't the right place for asking this, but I was re-reading Don Delillos 'End Zone' recently and I noticed some similarities with sections of Infinite Jest (I'm a big Wallace fan by the way), particularly the conversations between the players, it reminded me of some of the locker room chats in Jest. Anyone else pick up on this, or indeed disagree. Appreciate any feedback. Cheers

[christianvchacon]

I already got this book (Artful Sentences) based on your recommendation of it in a reply to a comment on your David Foster Wallace Vocab video. Thank you, Ian.

[majafahey]

Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography of doing this writing technique.

[hamzasaid]

I’ve been feeling the urge to adapt a favorite manga of mine into prose. I got the idea when I listened to an interview of Paul Thomas Anderson in where he took a short story he liked and wrote it down as a screenplay.

What do you think about this idea? I think it could be an interesting Challenge.

[arcadianguitars]

By the way, I'm not accusing Dave of copying, more being inspired by it.

[mroctober]

Would be nice if Artful Sentences was available as ebook.

[Misserbi]

First, watch "Finding Forester." Sean Connery plainly shows what is required to write -- write. Re-write. And edit until every single word is hitting. And then when you are satisfied the reader will be too. If you somehow believe you are not a writer you are a better one than you know. I like Kerouac. That means it is age sensitive and life style does matter. Most people get impressed earlier than when they decide to seriously write. Coming back to something is the beautiful part of it. You did not give up. Nothing matures better.

[kentjensen]

Even when I occasionally disagree with you, I am always grateful you are here with us and for us. (I am not referring to any disagreement in this video; it was a very general statement that I could have left on any of your videos.)

[cryyear]

I know the answer to this before watching the vid, it's the trash tech!

[Ruylopez]

I've heard of these two techniques before somewhere (imitating style and writing out an existing work) but thanks for reminding me! I remember hearing the idea of being within the flow of a great writer to get an impression of how it feels to be a great writer, although that isn't the only reason to do it, of course. But despite being a great exercise, in a way it does feel slightly dishonest, because that writer didn't write the published piece without revisions, so we're seeing their idealised writing, rather than their process. I find it comforting to look up photos of hand written poems and song lyrics and see all the corrections and changes.

[wmy]

heyo i apologise if this is a stupid question, but by "imitating" do you mean copying the extract word for word, or using the exact sentence structure to drop your own words into?