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What's the secret to compelling writing?
Here's a compilation of my favourite attempts to answer that question, from fantastic writers like:
@RyanHoliday
@Julian
@anthilemoon
@stephsmithio
@paulg
@david_perell
Here's a compilation of my favourite attempts to answer that question, from fantastic writers like:
@RyanHoliday
@Julian
@anthilemoon
@stephsmithio
@paulg
@david_perell
@julian:
Write about what bothers you most in your life today. Work through it in your writing, and find a sound conclusion.
Start your work by posing an intriguing question that would compel YOU to keep reading https://www.julian.com/guide/write/intro
Write about what bothers you most in your life today. Work through it in your writing, and find a sound conclusion.
Start your work by posing an intriguing question that would compel YOU to keep reading https://www.julian.com/guide/write/intro
@paulg:
Great writing is not just persuasive, but useful.
It should tell people something true and important, that they didn't already know.
http://www.paulgraham.com/useful.html
Great writing is not just persuasive, but useful.
It should tell people something true and important, that they didn't already know.
http://www.paulgraham.com/useful.html
@stephsmithio:
Fascinating writing comes from the intersection of three things:
- interesting topic
- doesn't exist in the exact form you had in mind
- something you can uniquely contribute to
She calls this "idea ikigai" https://blog.stephsmith.io/learning-to-write-with-confidence/
Fascinating writing comes from the intersection of three things:
- interesting topic
- doesn't exist in the exact form you had in mind
- something you can uniquely contribute to
She calls this "idea ikigai" https://blog.stephsmith.io/learning-to-write-with-confidence/
@anthilemoon:
Write down interesting ideas as you encounter them.
Anne-Laure will interrupt people to make a note when they say something she wants to reflect on. (As a bonus, people apparently find this very flattering!) https://nesslabs.com/writing-habit
Write down interesting ideas as you encounter them.
Anne-Laure will interrupt people to make a note when they say something she wants to reflect on. (As a bonus, people apparently find this very flattering!) https://nesslabs.com/writing-habit
@david_perell:
Build a personal monopoly, a unique intersection of your knowledge, personality, and skills.
Write consistently about the same ideas to build a body of work, becoming better and better at articulating those concepts https://www.perell.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-writing-online
Build a personal monopoly, a unique intersection of your knowledge, personality, and skills.
Write consistently about the same ideas to build a body of work, becoming better and better at articulating those concepts https://www.perell.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-writing-online
@paulg:
Write as if you were talking to a friend.
Read your work out loud, and fix everything that doesn't sound like conversation.
http://www.paulgraham.com/talk.html
Write as if you were talking to a friend.
Read your work out loud, and fix everything that doesn't sound like conversation.
http://www.paulgraham.com/talk.html
@RyanHoliday:
To make a classic work, write about the things that don't change.
Try to solve timeless problems, while keeping a specific audience in mind. https://www.amazon.com/Perennial-Seller-Ryan-Holiday-audiobook/dp/B0733RT7VL
To make a classic work, write about the things that don't change.
Try to solve timeless problems, while keeping a specific audience in mind. https://www.amazon.com/Perennial-Seller-Ryan-Holiday-audiobook/dp/B0733RT7VL
@VerlynKlinkenborg:
Pay close attention to each sentence.
Refine it until it says what you want it to say, and nothing more.
Favour short sentences.
(My personal favourite book on writing) https://www.amazon.com/Several-Short-Sentences-About-Writing/dp/0307279413
Pay close attention to each sentence.
Refine it until it says what you want it to say, and nothing more.
Favour short sentences.
(My personal favourite book on writing) https://www.amazon.com/Several-Short-Sentences-About-Writing/dp/0307279413
@davegirouard:
Focus on strong verbs. Let them do the work.
The verb "to be" almost always has a stronger alternative.
He was crying -> He wept
The stocks are way down -> The market crashed
I am tweeting -> I compose Twittery wisdom https://firstround.com/review/a-founders-guide-to-writing-well/
Focus on strong verbs. Let them do the work.
The verb "to be" almost always has a stronger alternative.
He was crying -> He wept
The stocks are way down -> The market crashed
I am tweeting -> I compose Twittery wisdom https://firstround.com/review/a-founders-guide-to-writing-well/
@anthilemoon:
Be part of an ecosystem
Celebrate other people's work, especially if you share an audience
This is the first step to building a community. https://nesslabs.com/50-lessons-50-newsletters
Be part of an ecosystem
Celebrate other people's work, especially if you share an audience
This is the first step to building a community. https://nesslabs.com/50-lessons-50-newsletters
@paulg:
An essay shouldn't just be an argument, an attempt to convince. It should be an attempt to answer a question.
Let your essays wander, as long as they do so in an intriguing way.
An essay is a question in search of a surprising answer.
http://www.paulgraham.com/essay.html
An essay shouldn't just be an argument, an attempt to convince. It should be an attempt to answer a question.
Let your essays wander, as long as they do so in an intriguing way.
An essay is a question in search of a surprising answer.
http://www.paulgraham.com/essay.html
