Pyramids and Snakes

If there's one thing my dear, departed friend Ranaa taught me about Egypt, it's this: Pyramids are big. Even the little ones - pretty big. Now, to be fair, it doesn't take a native of Cairo to understand that little fact about pyramids. However, it is one of those things that she said you couldn't really appreciate it until you are there experiencing it for yourself. Only then do you realize the grandeur and complexity of something that some might write off as just a large pile of stones. Nope. It's a pyramid of surprising mathematical intricacy, and it's big.

Now, here's what got me thinking about this. There are two structures you can follow when you are writing - the snake pattern or the pyramid pattern. Since I have already given a little update about my feelings on pyramids, let me discuss how a snake is actually different than a pyramid, Just to mention the obvious, snakes are nowhere near the same size, but they are lengthy and they tend to travel much faster than pyramids do. This gives them a totally different set of uses. Snakes can go places, do things, and actively adventure about, poisoning or crushing things, then invariably eating them. Pyramids can do none of these things (except for maybe crushing someone, but it would be incidental). However, pyramids are far better landmarks than snakes, and do draw more tourists every year. 

What does this have to do with writing? Well, three are two styles of informative writing: pyramid style and snake style. Snake style is a piece that remains narrow and well-defined, following a very specific path forward. This is a very efficient way for pushing forth a specific idea and getting your reader to the destination you want them to reach. Pyramid style, conversely, starts at a core point and builds upon it, the underlying points reinforcing further statements that build toward a critical juncture when the entire mass builds to a ultimate idea.

The weaknesses of these have to be mentioned as well. Snake style is narrow, so it follows a very specific set of ideas, one leading to the next. If at some point the reader loses the thread or doesn't appreciate a point, they are lost. The whole point of informative writing is to explain a broader concept such as a philosophy or a mindset, so at no point are you allowed to lose the reader. This problem doesn't eliminated the structure as a useful tool, but it places a very high demand that each point clearly needs to the next.

Pyramids do not suffer from this fault, since the building process is massive. Once the first point is made, the second point makes constant reference to the supporting ideas beneath it. This goes level by level, but each point is more tightly defined, making a narrower, more defining statement until the final conclusion is reached. However, this style travels nowhere. It dwells in the same place, staying firmly planted in one place. Pyramids don't wander around, and nor should the writing, otherwise it loses its effectiveness.

Snakes are best for informative writing about adventures, travels, and explorations of life. Pyramids should be explanations of life, concepts, and more abstract things that are constant and absolute. The next time you read an essay, a self-help book, or anything involving philosophy, examine the structure and ask what form it's taking. Then do the same with your writing.

And at some point, see the pyramids. I've heard they're impressive. And big.