How can some people write so beautifully?
1/ Two of my favorite writing techniques:
Writing technique 1: Don't always be direct
Instead of saying "the day was hot," you could write "even the bugs were looking for air conditioning."
That's what I call a second-order description: describe the *impact* caused by the hot day—instead of saying it's a hot day.
Why? Poetic writing is often one step removed from a straightforward description of the events.
The more steps you're removed while still communicating your point, the more "elegant" it might feel.
For example, let's start with a plain statement:
"The day was hot."
With a second-order description, you'd describe the heat by stating the effect it has on its environment:
"The day melted our popsicles." (Without mentioning the heat.)
Readers infer that the day was therefore hot.
As C.S. Lewis said:
"Instead of telling us a thing was 'terrible,' describe it so that we’ll BE terrified."
Let's go deeper now: