How a Rubber Duck Could Be Your Best Writing Tool

If my duck gets it, then so will you. Let me explain.

Sometimes, despite efforts otherwise, writing tends to be a relatively lonely profession. We often work best when not distracted by others around us — either literally or electronically — and, because of that, we can forget how to talk to people.

We forget how to explain things. Even experienced writers run into this. They know how to explain things to themselves, but can they explain things to you? This can be especially critical when writing something technical or detail-oriented.

If we can’t explain it in an easily understandable way, then we fail.

No one likes to fail.

I used to run into this issue now and then — mainly when I was writing about cybersecurity for lay audiences. Fortunately, I also had a strategy up my sleeve.

All thanks to a rubber duck.

The Rubber Duck Debugger

Back in 1999, two fellows named Andrew Hunt and David Thomas wrote a book entitled The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman To Master. I came across this in my early days as a writer, and it had some interesting pieces of advice.

While the book is aimed at computer programmers, it’s an eye-opening read for anyone who wants to get a better handle on any sort of development process. From that book also came the story of the rubber duck debugger.

As the story goes, a computer programmer would carry a rubber duck with him and use it to explain the details in the code he was working on — what certain lines did and why — to help him debug and fix any issues in the code that came up.

Like most writers, computer programmers don’t like being interrupted or bothered while working. Instead of bugging his fellow programmers, he used his rubber duck to talk out his code.

Just as a writer could use a rubber duck to talk out their blog, article, book, or whatever.

By talking to a rubber duck or (let’s be honest) any other kind of inanimate object you’re comfortable with, you can often come to a greater understanding of your topic and even perhaps find flaws or inconsistencies that need to be addressed.

If you can explain your topic to a rubber duck with no understanding of your subject, you can easily present your topic to a human reader.

Similarly, if you’re writing fiction, you can sound out your ideas to a captive, non-judgmental audience to determine how it sounds to your ears. Or to see if, out loud, your plot makes sense. Or your dialogue.

“Rubber Ducky, You’re the One…”

In short, the rubber duck debugger method is simply a way of using a sounding board for your writing when there are no human sounding boards available. Having a prop like a rubber duck gives you a focus for your talking about your writing. It has a face, so you can even give it a reader’s personality if you want. Is this a clever duck? Is it a dumb duck?

Does your writing make sense to the clever duck? Are you explaining your topic well enough so that the dumb duck could understand it?

And rubber ducks are pretty inexpensive. They come in a variety of colors and styles. You can have fun with your rubber ducks. Writing about history? Talk your points out with a duck that looks like Abraham Lincoln. Writing about space? Find a novelty astronaut duck. They exist.

Or find whatever suits you. I know one guy who talks to a Darth Vader action figure. It’s the same one he had as a kid and is probably his most prized personal possession.

Nothing To Feel Silly About

Are you worried you’re going to look silly talking out your writing to a rubber duck (or action figure or Mr. Potato Head or stuffed owl)?

Why? Remember what I pointed out at the beginning of this piece. Writers tend to work in isolation.

There ain’t no one around to see you do this.

And if there, hey… writers and other creatives already have a reputation for being a little bit eccentric. Now is your chance to embrace it.

Free your mind, and free yourself to take advantage of any tool that helps make you a better writer.

Quack-quack!

My writing coach Dr. Feathersworth says so.

About John Teehan

John lives in Rhode Island with his wife, son, and dog. He specializes in tech, health, business, parenting, pop culture, and gaming. Visit wordsbyjohn.net for more info and rates. Twitter: @WordsByJohn2