If you want to write more, I have some ideas for you.
Here are my favorite strategies to instantly improve your writing:
1. If you're stuck, write a summary.
Summarize long books and complicated papers. By doing so, you’ll learn fast and attract a smart audience of readers.
Here are my favorite strategies to instantly improve your writing:
1. If you're stuck, write a summary.
Summarize long books and complicated papers. By doing so, you’ll learn fast and attract a smart audience of readers.
2. Write about what you’re excited about.
You don’t need a long-term writing plan. Just write about what excites you. "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." — E.L. Doctorow
You don’t need a long-term writing plan. Just write about what excites you. "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." — E.L. Doctorow
3. Connect the known with the unknown.
You know more than you think you know. But as humans, we over-value the things we don’t have and under-value what we have in abundance.
Start with what you know. Then, connect your existing knowledge with a new topic you want to explore.
You know more than you think you know. But as humans, we over-value the things we don’t have and under-value what we have in abundance.
Start with what you know. Then, connect your existing knowledge with a new topic you want to explore.
4. Count the essays you’ve published, not the books you’ve read.
What gets measured gets managed. Obsess over the number of articles you publish and you will publish more. The number of books you read is a vanity metric, so create as often as you consume.
perell.com/blog/one-big-i…
What gets measured gets managed. Obsess over the number of articles you publish and you will publish more. The number of books you read is a vanity metric, so create as often as you consume.
perell.com/blog/one-big-i…
5. Stop trying to be original.
You can build an audience and create tremendous value for the world by building upon other people’s ideas. My favorite example is @FarnamStreet, an intellectual treasure inspired by Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett.
Everything is a remix.
You can build an audience and create tremendous value for the world by building upon other people’s ideas. My favorite example is @FarnamStreet, an intellectual treasure inspired by Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett.
Everything is a remix.
6. Build a note-taking system.
If you can’t write, don’t read another writing book. Build a note-taking system first. Save all your best ideas, so you can build an arsenal of ideas so big that you can’t help but write. A good note-taking system is a creative superpower.
If you can’t write, don’t read another writing book. Build a note-taking system first. Save all your best ideas, so you can build an arsenal of ideas so big that you can’t help but write. A good note-taking system is a creative superpower.
7. Sprint, Don’t Jog
If you want to be prolific, writing fast is as important as writing well. Whenever you write, set an ambitious word count and a 60-minute timer. When the timer goes off, stop writing. If you give yourself too much time to write, you will procrastinate.
If you want to be prolific, writing fast is as important as writing well. Whenever you write, set an ambitious word count and a 60-minute timer. When the timer goes off, stop writing. If you give yourself too much time to write, you will procrastinate.
8. Distract yourself
Spend less time typing. Your best ideas will come while you’re being “unproductive.” They’ll pop into your mind when you’re relaxing or talking to a friend. Curate your best ideas when you’re away from the computer, so you can be efficient when you sit down.
Spend less time typing. Your best ideas will come while you’re being “unproductive.” They’ll pop into your mind when you’re relaxing or talking to a friend. Curate your best ideas when you’re away from the computer, so you can be efficient when you sit down.
9. Your first articles won’t be good. That's okay.
When you start writing, the quality of your prose will fall short of your ambitions. But your writing will improve if you publish consistently, listen to feedback, and chase the horizon of perfection.
When you start writing, the quality of your prose will fall short of your ambitions. But your writing will improve if you publish consistently, listen to feedback, and chase the horizon of perfection.
10. Once you sit down at your computer, it's time to focus.
People under-estimate what they can achieve with 2 hours of focused writing and over-estimate what they can achieve with 10 hours of unfocused writing.
No phone. No interruptions.
People under-estimate what they can achieve with 2 hours of focused writing and over-estimate what they can achieve with 10 hours of unfocused writing.
No phone. No interruptions.
If you want to improve your writing, you will like my 9-day email course.
You'll learn the pillars of online writing including why you should own your distribution, build a note-taking system, and write in small chunks.
ageofleverage.com/course
You'll learn the pillars of online writing including why you should own your distribution, build a note-taking system, and write in small chunks.
ageofleverage.com/course
If you want to save this entire thread, here is a screenshot.
