How to Make Your Writing Memorable | Mark Forsyth

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  • Опубліковано 21 січ 2025

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  • @DavidPerellChannel
    @DavidPerellChannel  6 місяців тому +32

    What does the writing of Katy Perry, Hemingway, and The Bible have in common?
    Mark Forsyth has the answer. He studied history's greatest writers and noticed how they used the same rhetorical formulas.
    Here's what you need to know:
    1. The formulas are timeless (and still work).
    2. Where to begin? Try taking the last word of one sentence and repeating it as the first word in the next. It gives the illusion of logic. Like this one from Yoda: "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hatred. Hatred leads to suffering."
    3. An example from Malcolm X: "Once you change your philosophy, you change your thought pattern. Once you change your thought pattern, you change your attitude. Once you change your attitude, it changes your behavior pattern and then you go on into some action."
    4. It's a mystery why, but people love to hear a string of words that begins with the same letter. "Two to Tango" is a heck of a lot more memorable than "Two to Waltz."
    5. From his book, Elements of Eloquence: "Adjectives in English absolutely have to be in this order: opinion-size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose Noun."
    6. People will tell you to write only what's necessary, but endless repetition can be a way to emphasize something. Katy Perry's repetition of opposites is logically unnecessary, but it works: "'Cause you're hot then you're cold, You're yes then you're no, You're in then you're out, You're up then you're down, You're wrong when it's right, It's black and it's white, We fight, we break up, We kiss, we make up."
    7. Wedding vows have the same kind of repetition: "For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health..."
    8. JFK leaned on a rhetorical device called a Chiasmus, where you take the first half of a sentence and say it backward. You see it in sentences like "Mankind must put an end to war-or war will put an end to mankind" and "Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country."
    9. I like the Chiasmus because it's so easy to implement. Here's another example of a Chiasmus, like when Cormac McCarthy wrote: "You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget."
    10. Language is ruled by the mob. Doesn't matter what the committees think. If everybody uses a word in a certain way, then that's what it means.
    11. Most of Shakespeare's famous lines are simply examples of famous formulas.
    12. Shakespeare often "stole" content from other people, but he improved what he stole by using rhetorical formulas and figures of speech. Mark insists that he had Thomas North’s translation of Plutarch open while writing Julius Caesar.
    13. Write two things that connect, then add a twist for the third thing. The magic comes from the surprise. An example is: "Lies, damned lies, and statistics." Another is: "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
    14. Sometimes, the things that stick will simply surprise you. One of the most famous lines in film history only has three words: "Bond. James Bond."
    15. The James Bond-style line is called a Diacope. Other examples are "Burn, baby, burn" and "Zed’s dead, baby, Zed’s dead."

    • @rebeccagarcia5749
      @rebeccagarcia5749 5 місяців тому

      I think you meant Katy Perry, Dickens, and the Bible…

  • @PaddyLamont
    @PaddyLamont 6 місяців тому +58

    This episode is like being introduced to a whole new universe of writing tools

    • @DavidPerellChannel
      @DavidPerellChannel  6 місяців тому +6

      Dig it! Strongly recommend Mark's book: The Elements of Eloquence

    • @PaddyLamont
      @PaddyLamont 6 місяців тому +2

      @@DavidPerellChannel Already ordered it! :D

    • @ArthurMuhammad19
      @ArthurMuhammad19 2 дні тому

      @@DavidPerellChannelis it helpful for writing screenplays?

  • @kayokay7657
    @kayokay7657 2 місяці тому +6

    I would love for Shakespeare to break into my house and tidy up. This video was wonderful. The conversation itself was a poem.

  • @ericmarshsr.6510
    @ericmarshsr.6510 5 місяців тому +33

    The fact that he quoted Coolio is evidence that he is in fact a master of his craft. Kudos to you, sir.

    • @CoachCam713
      @CoachCam713 4 місяці тому +2

      My Coolio, he meant Snoop Dog. But he gets a pass for his riveting accent. ⚡️⚡️

    • @robertmuhammad8842
      @robertmuhammad8842 11 днів тому

      Yes. Snoop. “Gin and Juice.” But point taken

  • @jarrodsio
    @jarrodsio 5 місяців тому +22

    Heard his accent, checked his bio. Of course he went to Oxford. Outstanding interview. Kudos.

  • @dcle944
    @dcle944 5 місяців тому +15

    This is an incredible. I wish there are more videos like this to actually teach us how to write.

  • @uriludger6392
    @uriludger6392 3 місяці тому +6

    "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who tresspass against us" I always thought that was a bar😂😂🔥🔥🔥

  • @tedtalksrock
    @tedtalksrock 4 місяці тому +9

    This guy wrote a wonderful book on this topic. 8:13 Ah! They mention it here. The Elements of Eloquence. Absolute classic. Secret sauce for any word chef. 👩‍🍳 👌

  • @lumoc.
    @lumoc. Місяць тому +8

    This man's book is a grimoire. It contains forbidden literary knowledge, and whichever writer reads it will have its power.

    • @ArthurMuhammad19
      @ArthurMuhammad19 3 дні тому

      Which book?

    • @lumoc.
      @lumoc. 2 дні тому +1

      @@ArthurMuhammad19 The Elements of Eloquence

    • @ArthurMuhammad19
      @ArthurMuhammad19 2 дні тому

      Thank you. I just heard them mention it. I write screenplays and wonder if this will help.

  • @MichaelKilmanAuthor
    @MichaelKilmanAuthor 2 місяці тому +2

    Fascinating. I have apparently been doing a lot of this in my writing and had no idea. Thanks for hosting a fascinating discussion

  • @dominiquewingerd1313
    @dominiquewingerd1313 13 годин тому

    Such a relief that all my "talking to that other person in the room that technically isn't there" is good for something

  • @coreybox
    @coreybox 5 місяців тому +10

    “If it flows out of you, it flows into the reader”

  • @kwameasamoa-krodua7034
    @kwameasamoa-krodua7034 2 місяці тому +1

    This was a beautiful conversation, thank you for the work you do sir. You're giving so much hope in such an unintentional way. 🙏🏾❤️

  • @tomaseriksson5430
    @tomaseriksson5430 4 місяці тому +18

    You want to become a better writer? Read The Elements of Eloquence, NOW! I rarely comment but I simply need to endorse this book. I've read dozens of books on writing and this might be my new number one. It's short, succinct, it has a great structure where the end of each short chapter leads into the next (I can't say enough good things about the structure), it's just excellently written - extremely dense with lots of humor and it's full of examples so you can easily follow along and start practicing all the various techniques. I mean it will actually show you how to write like Shakespeare! I could go on but I recommend this book to anyone interested in writing, this book was a real gem, I took a ton of notes and I am already a better writer. Thanks Mark if you ever read this /a published writer from Sweden

  • @carolekeingati8055
    @carolekeingati8055 4 місяці тому +1

    Thoroughly enjoyed this discussion, I was absolutely sat between you two. Its interesting how passionate Mark sounds with a somewhat serious delivery😅 he must love hip hop😊

  • @muadzazmi9469
    @muadzazmi9469 6 місяців тому +6

    the video is getting better and better. love it

  • @AnnaMaledonPictureBookAuthor
    @AnnaMaledonPictureBookAuthor 3 місяці тому +1

    That was absolutely amazing. Picture books use rhetorical devices too. I started collecting great sentences from picture books years ago but I stopped. I should keep doing it. One day I may write a book about it.
    Of course I'm going to order Marc's book. I seem to write and edit is a similar way to Marc. The story either works straight away or I start over. If it fizzles out, I abandon it.
    I'm so happy youtube suggested this video and this channel. Why on earth I haven't seen it sooner, youtube?

  • @eugene_obo
    @eugene_obo 6 місяців тому +7

    I wish this was correctly subtitled... these words are new to me, and they are just epic. Thanks man 💖💖

  • @JoelCrumbleyAuthor
    @JoelCrumbleyAuthor 2 місяці тому +1

    Thank you for this interview!

  • @opollitico
    @opollitico 5 місяців тому +3

    Starting strong, so good so far

  • @jillhbaudhaan
    @jillhbaudhaan 2 місяці тому +2

    This was wholly enjoyable

  • @ChrisSilverman
    @ChrisSilverman 4 дні тому

    Well I enjoyed listening to this conversation

  • @mlamulimbambochannel
    @mlamulimbambochannel 2 місяці тому +1

    This is a masterclass in being memorable in our writing and speaking. Sometimes it's not the idea rather how we phrase it.
    To do, or not, to do. In my book there's a character that emulates Bond, James Bond and I am wondering if I should ''borrow'' that formula to make that passage of the book more memorable...

  • @nettietrees7238
    @nettietrees7238 2 місяці тому +2

    Interesting tidbit about Shakespeare being a thief. During Shakespeare’s era, the Classical Education of the Greeks and Romans had a ‘renaissance’. Writing was based around the ancient practice of the trivium (grammar, logic and rhetoric). It had stages, the first being: A exemplary ‘model’ was chosen, the student would analyse (1st grammatically, parsing, etc. 2nd logically for arguments/topics of invention, and 3rdly on its rhetorical character, including the identification of tropes and figures, as well as other rhetorical dimensions such as the arrangement of the entire discourse, or matters of rhythm and style) The second stage involved the practice of Imitation. These imitative exercises consisted either of copying some type of form within the original, but supplying new content; or, of copying the content of the original, but supplying a new form. There are many, many different techniques employed. The most common is the varying of sentences, but also included a practice called Metaphrasis - the ‘translating’ from one genre to another - a speech to a poem, etc. Students kept commonplace books to record their favourites. Models of exemplary writing were often taken from famous Greek and Roman authors, such as Plutarch. I genuinely believe, thanks to Desiderius Erasmus, Shakespeare would of had this classical training in writing. He would have most likely been reading Plutarch as a model of excellence, and he was practising his progymnasmata exercises, and collecting them in his commonplace book. The final Form taken within this education is Genesis - the creation of your own work, which would have included examples of exercises a student worked on during his education.

  • @KingKass2929
    @KingKass2929 14 днів тому +5

    And just like that, two people I’d never heard of an hour ago are now two of my favorite humans on earth.
    Goddamn this is wonderful content.

  • @timdemoss
    @timdemoss 6 місяців тому +4

    Feeling the pressure to come up with a rhetorically eloquent comment - but I'll just say, this was incredibly helpful and thank you so much. :)

  • @sultanalshirah
    @sultanalshirah 6 місяців тому +7

    Just in time for my long car ride. You are unstoppable 👍.

  • @the_medievalchick
    @the_medievalchick 2 місяці тому +1

    I've just fallen in love... my sapiophilia is riding me hard with this one... I even went and got the e-book of Elements of Eloquence while listening to this, and the first few paragraphs are just... It's so well written I want to cry...

  • @joshuafuentes-smith
    @joshuafuentes-smith 6 місяців тому +3

    Wow, thank you both. Very good.

  • @heathermcdonald211
    @heathermcdonald211 2 місяці тому +1

    Brilliant my friends, just brilliant...

  • @markothwriter
    @markothwriter 6 місяців тому +2

    this video blew my mind, what a great find, it came at a perfect time, all stuff about rhyme,

    • @DavidPerellChannel
      @DavidPerellChannel  6 місяців тому +1

      Nice.... you should pick up Mark's book!
      "The Elements of Eloquence"

    • @markothwriter
      @markothwriter 6 місяців тому

      @@DavidPerellChannel Yes. I just bought it. I will read it this August.

  • @iLoveWriting365
    @iLoveWriting365 6 місяців тому +2

    Great intro - watching this now!

  • @robertglowinski5617
    @robertglowinski5617 2 місяці тому +1

    Thank you man, thank you.

  • @TheModPod60
    @TheModPod60 Місяць тому

    Speechless.

  • @felixquansah5214
    @felixquansah5214 5 місяців тому +2

    Genius content!!!

  • @anythingelseplease123
    @anythingelseplease123 5 місяців тому

    Great this is me loves. Your videos are well good and me watches it all the live long hour.

  • @gphillips63
    @gphillips63 2 місяці тому +1

    How you reversed the JFK quote on your intro after getting it right initially with Forsyth? (Lol for an editor to miss)

  • @Bhagirathraj-c5g
    @Bhagirathraj-c5g 6 місяців тому +2

    It will help me ❤thanks dude

  • @nerrisnassiri
    @nerrisnassiri 2 місяці тому

    This is totally unrelated but does anyone know where the heck they place the microphones?

  • @Ozgipsy
    @Ozgipsy 2 місяці тому

    “Eloquence” is Mark’s book. It’s not mentioned or linked here.

  • @flor.7797
    @flor.7797 6 місяців тому +2

    30:13 18th century highyway thief slang ❤❤😂🎉

  • @paulcartographer
    @paulcartographer 3 місяці тому

    Thank you so much

  • @k1k0000
    @k1k0000 Місяць тому

    18:21 so true!

  • @ClarkeScott
    @ClarkeScott 6 місяців тому

    Did anyone else go and search the Wizard of Oz scene for "Fly my pretties fly"...convince Mark was wrong? Could not find it. So where is that from?

  • @vitalysikorskiy5938
    @vitalysikorskiy5938 Місяць тому

    Native russian speaker here. I greatly enjoyed the video, but i have no idea what that russian word is haha

  • @heathero2263
    @heathero2263 Місяць тому

    WOW 🎉🎉🎉

  • @Enscriptiv
    @Enscriptiv 5 місяців тому +1

    Same as Star Wars where we all remember "Luke, I am your father", but that's not the correct line from the movie I believe.

  • @abdulmohaimin9982
    @abdulmohaimin9982 6 місяців тому +17

    Did you intentionally misspeak the JFK line in your intro? 😂

  • @sultanalshirah
    @sultanalshirah 6 місяців тому

    It sounds like you flipped the speech here in 01:21 😅😅

  • @grimmdanny
    @grimmdanny 13 днів тому

    11:50. 7 books on the left, 9 on the right is giving me OCD.

  • @Soccolich
    @Soccolich 6 місяців тому +1

    🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

  • @dcle944
    @dcle944 5 місяців тому

    I have his book. I thought he’s an old man. Turns out he’s younger than me. Now I need to figure what I have done with my life in all these years.

    • @ExecutiveSummary-k8b
      @ExecutiveSummary-k8b 5 місяців тому

      "...younger than _I_." 😂 Sorry, the homeschool dad in me just HAD to...!

  • @gianlucarusso3898
    @gianlucarusso3898 Місяць тому

    This souldn't be for free (but i love It Is ❤)

  • @joseflores2184
    @joseflores2184 3 місяці тому

    I like the room. Your home?

  • @zeropointfool
    @zeropointfool 6 місяців тому

    My man here quoting Dave Mustaine, respect.

  • @800-high9
    @800-high9 5 місяців тому

    At 1:20, that's not what JFK said

  • @ExecutiveSummary-k8b
    @ExecutiveSummary-k8b 5 місяців тому +1

    David reversed the JFK quote. 😂

  • @SuhaibAndrabi
    @SuhaibAndrabi 5 місяців тому

    I leave this line form Jay-z and Kanye West's " no church in the wild" :
    Is Pious pious ’cause God loves pious?
    Socrates asks, “whose bias do y’all seek?”

  • @ideapulse-i2i
    @ideapulse-i2i 2 місяці тому

    1:20 Did he just said the iconic jfk speech other way round.BIG L from Pakistan

  • @EllenSmyth
    @EllenSmyth 2 місяці тому

    Mmm, yeah. Modern copyright laws assure that we will never see another Shakespeare.

  • @brett1354
    @brett1354 Місяць тому +1

    You got the JFK quote backwards.

  • @rxfadillah
    @rxfadillah 5 місяців тому

    I wonder if rapper like Harry Mack use these writing techniques

    • @SuhaibAndrabi
      @SuhaibAndrabi 5 місяців тому

      Here's one from Jay-z :
      Is Pious pious ’cause God loves pious?
      Socrates asks, “whose bias do y’all seek?”

  • @thomascleveland
    @thomascleveland 4 місяці тому

    Next time he's on, can you ask him what the technical term is for this? ua-cam.com/video/G7RgN9ijwE4/v-deo.html

  • @ronbeaubien
    @ronbeaubien 5 місяців тому

    Where is the cheat sheet? All I see is an hour-long video.

    • @tedtalksrock
      @tedtalksrock 4 місяці тому +1

      It’s the book that he wrote.

    • @ronbeaubien
      @ronbeaubien 4 місяці тому

      @@tedtalksrock Thank you. I wasn't aware of that.

  • @sethrakes1991
    @sethrakes1991 3 місяці тому

    Mandela Effect

  • @markrobinson449
    @markrobinson449 Місяць тому +1

    You totally misquoted Kennedy in the first 30 seconds of the video. I can't even watch the rest after that.