Learning to write with rhythm from Snowball the cockatoo

We all have rhythm. But not all of us know how to use it.

Rhythm.

Some of us have it. Some of us don’t.

At least that’s what we used to think.

Until a Cockatoo named Snowball proved that even bird brains have rhythm. Literally.

(Bonus: This video has Backstreet Boys music)

This weekend, instead of reading up on writing, I decided to dive into YouTube videos for music students.

What I learned isn’t just interesting, but valuable research for becoming a better writer.

P.S., If you like this article, please SHARE WITH ONE PERSON who wants to become a more confident writer. Thank you!

We all have rhythm. No, really.

Musicians have a trick for improving their rhythm. It’s simple.

Instead of trying to keep the beat in their heads, they learn to count the measures out loud while playing a piece.

They do this for two reasons:

1. It forces them to master the piece of music. Talking and playing is difficult if you have to think deeply about each.

2. Counting out loud taps into our primate brain’s ability to keep near-perfect rhythm.

Let me repeat that: Our monkey brains have a natural ability to keep near-perfect rhythm.

But it’s not just humans who have this trait. New research shows that animals like dolphins, bats, and yes, cockatoos, are able to keep rhythm as well.

The key to perfect rhythm is our voice, and it’s basically involuntary.

See for yourself. Take a moment to count out loud from 1 to 10.

Done? Good. Now count again, but half as slow.

Now again, but twice as fast as the original.

Notice how you maintained a steady rhythm while counting, no matter how fast you went?

Now try to count from 1 to 10 with absolutely NO rhythm. Try to make it completely random.

It’s hard, right? You brain searches for a beat to follow. Keeping rhythm is second-nature to us when we talk out loud.

When musicians count out loud, they are utilizing their natural metronome — their voice — to keep rhythm.

As writers, we can do the same.

Finding your rhythm in writing

It’s more difficult to find your rhythm in writing than in music.

By now, you should know the reason why:

Writing and reading occurs primarily in our heads. This renders our verbal metronome useless. Our natural rhythm is lost to the chaos of the quiet mind.

Luckily, there is a very simple solution for writers: Reading your work out loud.

We all talk with a natural rhythm that fits the situation. When we’re laid back, our voice is slow and lilting. In stressful situations, it’s upbeat and forceful.

Like music, our voices ebb and flow with rhythmic melody. We can infuse our writing with the same rhythm by reading it out loud.

Edit for Rhythm

When I’m editing an article or book, I conduct no less than four edits:

1. Substance edit: Is the content interesting and structured well?

2. Line-by-line edit: Am I saying what needs to be said — no more and no less?

3. Read aloud edit: (Now self-explanatory)

4. Proofread: Grammar and punctuation

Most writers skip straight to the proofread. Some conduct a substance edit, and even fewer break down their work line-by-line.

But only the best writers perform the read aloud edit, which is actually an edit for rhythm.

When you read your writing out loud, you’ll notice sentences that break awkwardly and drag on for too long. You’ll hear which words sing and which get stuck in the mouth.

Don’t ever skip the rhythm edit. I would rather read rhythmic writing that’s riddled in grammar issues than a perfectly-punctuated piece that reads like a broken-down freight train.

Remember: Everyone has rhythm. But not all of us know how to use it.

Now you do.

Cheers,

Ben

P.S., If you liked this article, please SHARE WITH ONE PERSON who wants to become a more confident writer. Thank you!