Thread by @ShaanVP

most people's writing is boring, or too complicated.

here's 7 things that will make you a better writer.

Let's start with the most non-obvious tip:

#1 - look at what I did in the first tweet.

I created a "curiosity gap"

---> what are the 7 things?

...then I punched it up

"let's start with the least obvious one"

---> ooh, I wonder what it is

the goal of line #1 is to get you to line #2.

Practice curiosity gaps.

#2 - Copy other people

wanna learn music? Play covers of songs

wanna learn to cook? Use recipes

wanna learn to write? Start by HANDWRITING someone elses writing that you like.

It's called "copywork". It is the cure for writers block.

Do this or else...*dun dun dunnnn*

#3 - Write like you talk

see how I put a sound effect at the end of the last tweet? It's like I'm talking out loud.

Here's a tip.

if you don't know what to write, just start talking out loud.

Then write down what you said.

Then go back and delete the umms & extra words

#4 - Forget What You Learned In School

Schools reward you for:
- using big words
- and writing long essays ("minimum word count")

The real world is the opposite. Great writing is:
- simple words
- shorter the better

#5 - Write like a boss

Writing is a killer way to stand out inside a company.

Here's a simple format on how to write inside a company:

WHAT, WHY, SO WHAT?

eg.
WHAT happened?
WHY did it happen?
SO WHAT are we gonna do about it?

Those 3 = clear crisp communication

It works for stuff that happened AND for things that are coming up (eg. launching a new project)

WHAT are we going to do ?
WHY are we going to do it ?
SO WHAT do we need you to do?

#6 - EMOTION is the goal

Most people think writing is about transferring INFORMATION

but writing is actually about transferring EMOTION

Emotion gets people to take action (like, share, buy, etc.), not information.

Fear, Greed, Anger, Hope, Love, Certainty are your tools

#7 - Practice.

Ok this is the obvious one.

You get good at anything through practice & coaching.

You gotta get reps.

And if you want coaching, I teach a course called Power Writing (powerwritingcourse.com) a few times a year to go in detail on each one of these & more

not a bad sales letter eh?