17 traits of the world’s most successful writers
(A thread on becoming a fantastic writer)
(A thread on becoming a fantastic writer)
Before we dive in, these threads take a while to write.
I'd appreciate it if you hit the retweet button on the first tweet 👆
That way they reach more people.
Now, on with the thread...
I'd appreciate it if you hit the retweet button on the first tweet 👆
That way they reach more people.
Now, on with the thread...
1. Direct.
Do not ramble.
Some writers are in love with the sound of their own words and it's a slog to get through as a reader. You can do better.
Get rid of filler, focus on saying what you need to in the most direct way.
Do not ramble.
Some writers are in love with the sound of their own words and it's a slog to get through as a reader. You can do better.
Get rid of filler, focus on saying what you need to in the most direct way.
2. Careful.
Word choice matters.
The wrong word will make or break your piece.
Avoid fancy words whenever possible and always look for the best word to communicate your idea.
Word choice matters.
The wrong word will make or break your piece.
Avoid fancy words whenever possible and always look for the best word to communicate your idea.
3. Concise.
Every sentence should contain one thought.
Every sentence should be as short as it can be, without losing the meaning or feeling of the phrase.
Nothing is worse than someone who uses 100 words to communicate what should be said in 10 words.
Every sentence should contain one thought.
Every sentence should be as short as it can be, without losing the meaning or feeling of the phrase.
Nothing is worse than someone who uses 100 words to communicate what should be said in 10 words.
4. Varied.
Don't make all your sentences the same length. It's boring. And it's really hard to read.
See this picture from Gary Provost for example.
(Every writing account has posted this picture at least twice, but it's because it's so helpful.)
Don't make all your sentences the same length. It's boring. And it's really hard to read.
See this picture from Gary Provost for example.
(Every writing account has posted this picture at least twice, but it's because it's so helpful.)
5. Disciplined.
Writing well is hard.
Anyone who says otherwise is lying or selling something.
You are going to have times you don't want to write.
You want to play on Twitter or Netflix instead.
Without discipline to push through those moments, you will fail.
Writing well is hard.
Anyone who says otherwise is lying or selling something.
You are going to have times you don't want to write.
You want to play on Twitter or Netflix instead.
Without discipline to push through those moments, you will fail.
6. Focused.
Turn off your phone.
I say this in every thread, but turn it off.
You cannot write if your mind is not 100% focused on the page in front of you.
If you need to, turn off the computer as well.
Go sit outside with paper and pen.
(I do this for poetry.)
Turn off your phone.
I say this in every thread, but turn it off.
You cannot write if your mind is not 100% focused on the page in front of you.
If you need to, turn off the computer as well.
Go sit outside with paper and pen.
(I do this for poetry.)
7. Well read
You cannot create before you consume.
The more you read, the more your learn what works and doesn't work.
Read constantly, read what you want to write, but also read the best of everything else.
This is not an optional step.
You cannot create before you consume.
The more you read, the more your learn what works and doesn't work.
Read constantly, read what you want to write, but also read the best of everything else.
This is not an optional step.
8. Jack-of-all-trades.
You do not become good at copy by only writing copy.
You become good at copy by writing poetry, tweets, copy, novels and essays.
And by learning gardening, DIY, sales, marketing etc.
The wider your experience, the richer your writing.
You do not become good at copy by only writing copy.
You become good at copy by writing poetry, tweets, copy, novels and essays.
And by learning gardening, DIY, sales, marketing etc.
The wider your experience, the richer your writing.
9. Psychologists.
The best writers are really psychologists with a pen.
Why?
The more you understand people, the better you reach them.
- More realistic characters
- Better emotional triggers
- Better engagement
Understand the people you're writing to.
The best writers are really psychologists with a pen.
Why?
The more you understand people, the better you reach them.
- More realistic characters
- Better emotional triggers
- Better engagement
Understand the people you're writing to.
10. Storytellers
Stories are more persuasive than facts.
And they are more entertaining and gripping too.
No matter how beautifully you write, if there isn't a story in every piece then people will not be interested.
Check this thread for more:
Stories are more persuasive than facts.
And they are more entertaining and gripping too.
No matter how beautifully you write, if there isn't a story in every piece then people will not be interested.
Check this thread for more:
https://twitter.com/getpaidwrite/status/1425098389516128262
11. Recyclers
Don't just write content once and be done.
You can reuse it over and over in different ways.
This thread could become a YouTube video, an email and a blog.
The tweets from it can stand alone.
The notes for it could form part of a book.
Keep recycling.
Don't just write content once and be done.
You can reuse it over and over in different ways.
This thread could become a YouTube video, an email and a blog.
The tweets from it can stand alone.
The notes for it could form part of a book.
Keep recycling.
12. Learners.
Keep learning and getting better.
You only become a master of writing when you realise that you will never master writing.
You will always be learning.
- Read craft books
- Learn from masters
- Get community feedback 👇
gumroad.com/a/129406067/ku… #aff
Keep learning and getting better.
You only become a master of writing when you realise that you will never master writing.
You will always be learning.
- Read craft books
- Learn from masters
- Get community feedback 👇
gumroad.com/a/129406067/ku… #aff
13. Philosophers.
99% of good writing is having good thoughts.
Don't just churn things out mindlessly.
Travel, see the world, read books, think deeply, talk with friends.
All of those will hone your thoughts and help you write better.
99% of good writing is having good thoughts.
Don't just churn things out mindlessly.
Travel, see the world, read books, think deeply, talk with friends.
All of those will hone your thoughts and help you write better.
14. Clear.
There is no point being clever if people don't get it.
Read through your piece out loud, do you stumble over anything? Rewrite that.
The point of writing is to convey emotion and information.
Anything that gets in the way should be removed.
There is no point being clever if people don't get it.
Read through your piece out loud, do you stumble over anything? Rewrite that.
The point of writing is to convey emotion and information.
Anything that gets in the way should be removed.
15. Copycats.
The first step in discovering your own voice is to imitate.
Take what you read and write your favourite bits out. Why do they work?
Look for patterns and templates that work well (especially on Twitter).
Here's one way 👇
gumroad.com/a/382604403/kZ… #aff
The first step in discovering your own voice is to imitate.
Take what you read and write your favourite bits out. Why do they work?
Look for patterns and templates that work well (especially on Twitter).
Here's one way 👇
gumroad.com/a/382604403/kZ… #aff
16. Creative.
This is the flip-side to #15.
Don't just copy, find your own new way of saying things.
Avoid cliches, and overused templates. Say the same truths in a fresh way.
But this comes from copying and reading many others writers to form your own unique blend.
This is the flip-side to #15.
Don't just copy, find your own new way of saying things.
Avoid cliches, and overused templates. Say the same truths in a fresh way.
But this comes from copying and reading many others writers to form your own unique blend.
17. Patient.
Success with writing takes time.
This is not a get rich quick scheme.
It takes time to develop your skill
It takes time to build an audience
it takes time to publish a book
You need to be prepared to stick at it.
Success with writing takes time.
This is not a get rich quick scheme.
It takes time to develop your skill
It takes time to build an audience
it takes time to publish a book
You need to be prepared to stick at it.
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