Building on the timeless writing discussion, I'm curious about practical strategies. When you're working on a piece, what specific choices do you make to help ensure it has lasting value?
Is it about topic selection? Language choices? Structure? Something about the emotional core? I'd love to hear about the actual decisions you make during the writing process to create work that endures.
When I'm editing for lasting value, I pay close attention to examples and references. I try to use examples that illustrate timeless principles rather than current events.
For instance, instead of referencing a specific social media platform's algorithm (which will change), I might talk about the principle of understanding your audience's needs. The principle endures even as the specific applications change.
For blog posts, I focus on creating what I call foundation content" pieces that establish fundamental understanding of a topic. These tend to have lasting value because they help readers build a framework they can use to understand new developments.
Instead of writing about the latest tool or trend, I write about the underlying skills or mindsets needed to evaluate any tool or trend. That foundational knowledge doesn't go out of date.
I try to write at the level of human experience rather than specific circumstances. Instead of writing about how to deal with pandemic related anxiety," I might write about "how to cope with uncertainty and loss of control."
The specific circumstances change, but the human experience of facing uncertainty remains constant. By focusing on that deeper level, the writing remains relevant regardless of what specific form the challenges take.
I encourage writers to think about what wisdom they want to convey that would be valuable to their future self reading it years from now. If it would still feel meaningful and useful to you in the future, it's likely to have lasting value for others too.
This often leads to writing that's more reflective and principle based, less focused on immediate practical tips that might become outdated. It's writing that teaches how to think about a topic, not just what to do about it right now.
In film writing, I focus on analysis that helps viewers develop their own critical skills rather than just telling them what to think about a specific film.
Instead of just analyzing plot points, I might discuss how to recognize thematic patterns, how to pay attention to visual storytelling, or how to think about character development. Those analytical skills remain valuable regardless of what films are being released, so the writing has lasting utility.