0/ @stubbornella asked for a book on how to communicate effectively in shortform. Instead, here’s a tweetstorm.
1/ People often forget the details, but never how you made them feel.
2/ Messaging instantly trashes mental flow. They are doing what they think is important, and you disagree.
3/ Messaging is the microtransactions of attention. Note that no one has gotten microtransactions right.
4/ Reading messages is way more costly than writing them, and possibly more costly than whatever it is you are interrupting them for.
5/ 70% think, 10% write, 20% rewrite. Show your respect by putting in the effort.
6/ Writing that does not change how the reader does, thinks, or feels is by definition inconsequential. Cut all that fluff out.
7/ Be brief, say what you feel, then say what you want. And always say why.
8/ People in a hurry focus on the first idea and the last thing asked for. Repeat the important ask last.
9/ “Where are you?” should be considered ungrammatical. Say “I am <here> and I think you are <there>, where are you?”
10/ “That doc I’m working on”, or “that thing with Fulano” are ungrammatical. Paste the link, every time.
11/ And fucking thank them when you are done.
12/ Thank you.
13/ PS, because I violated #7 and #8: Thinking about your writing as a physical, consequential act focuses you on not just your goals, brevity, style, etc, but on how you effect other people. All communication has consequences, so doublecheck yourself.
