Kieran Drew Profile picture
Dec 10, 2022 13 tweets 5 min read Read on X
Most people suck at writing.

But if you use these 10 writing secrets, I guarantee you won’t:

🧵
Write line by line

The worst thing you can be online is boring.

If you don’t vary sentence length, your reader will drown you out. So, use this trick:

Write your drafts line by line (h/t @sivers)

Make your sentences sing.
Rule of One

Most writers attempt to say too much.

But if you try to please everyone, you please no one.

Always use the Rule of One:

· One big idea
· One captivating story
· One core emotion
· One core benefit
· One call to action

Specificity is the secret.
Use the Zombie Test

Passive voice is wordy and confusing.

If weak writing is the problem, zombies are the solution.
Swap Your Sentence Structure

People remember the final word the most.

If you want your sentences to hit hard, finish strong.
The 50% Rule

Schools teach you to maximise word counts. The internet does the opposite.

Set a rule to force more quality:

From first draft to publishing, reduce the volume by 50%.

Say what needs to be said, then say no more.
Round 2 Writing

Most people publish and move on.

But your best ideas are a result of iteration.

If at first you don’t succeed, refine and try again.
Swap Complexity for Clarity

Confusion is the killer.

You can’t make an impact if you’re trying to impress.

Simplify your language.

Be clear, not clever. Concise, not complex.
Slippery Slope Writing

The best writing feels effortless to read.

Use:
· Curiosity
· Questions
· Open loops

Help your audience glide down the page.
Package Your Best Ideas

The ‘sticky writing’ toolkit:
· Juxtaposition
· Alliteration
· Symmetry
· Rhymes
· Rhythm

Don’t ruin important ideas with poor packaging.
Dive Deep With The 5 Why’s

A golden rule of human motivation:

We act with emotion then justify with logic.

… Which means your writing should too.

For each point you make, ask ‘Why should they care?’

Drill down to core desires.
Thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed this, 2 requests:

1. Drop me a follow @itskierandrew for ideas on writing, storytelling and business
2. Share the thread so others can read

Just click below and up you go, cheers.
Over the past 2 years, I've gone from burned out dentist stuck in the rat race to building my dream business.

And it's all because of writing.

My advice:
1. Download the copywriting crash course
2. Join 11,400 people reading A-B-C

Click here to do both:
kierandrew.ck.page/copy

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More from @ItsKieranDrew

Nov 5, 2024
Over the past 3 years, I’ve grown my email list to 35,000 readers.

It’s the most important part of my business.

But my biggest mistake? Wasting so much time on a ‘value’ newsletter.

If you want to grow your brand and business in 2024 and beyond, here’s why you need to avoid this trap:
When I started writing online, I spent almost two years sharing a ‘value’ newsletter.

Each week, I’d spend hours crafting an information-dense emails rich in steps, frameworks, and blueprints.

They felt great because they got plenty of compliments.

But they suck for your brand and business.

Why?
Most people think teaching was the best way to become an authority and get paid.

“If you give enough useful information, eventually people whip out their wallet.”

But it doesn’t work like that.

Why?

First, everyone is creating ‘advice’ content. It’s useful but unremarkable. You end up a commodity in a crowded market—a terrible position for business.

But the second point is most important:
Read 7 tweets
Oct 19, 2024
David Olgivy was one of the world’s best copywriters.

He once said:

“I am a lousy copywriter, but I am a good editor.”

The secret to great writing is rewriting. Steal my simple 3 step editing system to do it well: Image
First: never publish a first draft.

2 reasons:

1. Your first draft is never a complete thought
2. Writing is thinking on paper. Your best ideas emerge the more you revisit them

Instead:
First drafts fast

First drafts almost always suck. The key is to get it over with.

Write as fast as you can:

- No judgement
- No editing
- No checking social media
- Use [placeholders] when you get stuck

Think of it like vomiting ideas onto a page. Keep writing until you can say no more.
Read 7 tweets
Sep 3, 2024
Yesterday was the third year anniversary of me quitting the rat race.

When I went all in, I hadn’t made any money and had a tiny audience.

Since then:

- Grossed $875,964
- Attracted 241,000 followers
- Built a 35,000 subscriber email list

Here’s the most important lesson I learned about success:
I’d spent ten years and over 6 figures becoming a dentist.

I was terrified of throwing away all that effort. But it felt like an anchor slowly dragging me down.

Why?

Because I wasn’t happy.

On paper, I was doing well. I specialised in cosmetics and worked 6 days a week to ‘achieve success’.

But I couldn’t shake this feeling I was making a massive mistake.

That I was climbing the wrong mountain.

That there was something more to life.
But it took me years to grow the balls to quit.

Going ‘all in’ was the best decision I made.

Not because things worked out—although I’m glad they did (so is my hairline).

But because it showed me how important it is to bet on yourself.
Read 6 tweets
Jul 25, 2024
My favourite resource on understanding human behaviour:

“The Psychology of Human Misjudgement” by Charlie Munger.

There’s a reason Warren Buffett called his business partner the smartest man he knew.

Here’s a breakdown of the 25 psychological biases he shares: Image
1) Reward and Punishment Superresponse Tendency

Never underestimate the power of incentives. People will do crazy things to avoid pain or achieve gain.

“If you want ants to come, you put sugar on the floor.”
2) Liking/Loving Tendency

People will give you 100x more leeway in business and life if you’re likeable. This is why reputation is so important. It’s like the engine of your car. You can’t see it, but it’s the driving force behind all results.
Read 28 tweets
Jul 18, 2024
A philosophy that changed my life:

Stoicism.

I discovered it when I was diagnosed with a neurological tumour and a broken neck. Since then, every great outcome in my life has stemmed from the Stoic’s ideas.

Here are the 7 most powerful:
Don’t aim for happiness.

Most people are unhappy because they base their happiness on externalities. The Stoics instead for ‘Eudaimonia’—a deep-seated joy when living according to virtue:

• Justice
• Wisdom
• Courage
• Temperance Image
The dichotomy of control.

The more you chase things outside your control, the less control you have. Image
Read 8 tweets
Jul 12, 2024
4 years ago I couldn’t make a single dollar online.

But my business took off when I started studying the master of modern marketing:

Seth Godin.

Here’re 10 ideas that helped me the most (and how to apply them in your biz): Image
Narrow your focus.

Most creators cast their net wide to catch attention. But if you try to write to everyone, you write to no one.

Instead, get clear on your ‘One True Fan’.

Their:
• Pains
• Problems
• Desires
• Dreams

The smaller your aim the bigger the result. Image
Survive the dip.

When you start online, everything’s exciting. You’re motivated. But then the results slow down. It becomes a grind. You begin to doubt and fear.

This is The Dip. Every creator faces it.

The secret is to zoom out.

Expect results in 2 years, not 2 months. Image
Read 11 tweets

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