We don’t see what we read.
We hear it.
If each sentence is the same length, you sound boring.
Instead, aim for 20% long and 80% short.
Make your sentences sing.
Most people suck at writing.
But if you avoid these 12 common mistakes, I guarantee you won’t:
🧵
We don’t see what we read.
We hear it.
If each sentence is the same length, you sound boring.
Instead, aim for 20% long and 80% short.
Make your sentences sing.
Writing and editing are two separate skills.
Mix them and you suck at both.
Instead:
Leave 24 hours between each session (longer if possible).
Write first, edit later.
Before we read, we assess.
'Is this worth my energy?'
Be easy to read and you'll be easy to love.
Schools teach you to use complex and clever language.
But online, personality wins.
Treat writing like a conversation with a close friend.
Read it out loud before you publish.
Delete anything you wouldn’t say in person.
Stephen King once said, ‘The road to hell is paved with adverbs.’
They don’t strengthen your point.
They weaken your writing.
Use adverbs as an opportunity to swap for bolder language.
Schools punish you for not writing enough, but the internet rewards you for being succinct.
Say what needs to be said, then say no more.
Pro tip:
When you edit, reduce your word count by 30%.
Constraints are the key to creativity.
Writing is a reflection of your thoughts.
And people aren’t interested in weak ideas.
They want strength.
Be bold.
Never hedge your bets.
When you write to everyone, you write to no one.
People want to feel special.
Instead:
Imagine you're speaking to one avatar (write to your past self if you're not sure who)
The worst thing you can be online is boring.
Swap words for more exciting, emotional ones.
(Use https://t.co/TsWfm8u9CG h/t @wrongstowrite)
Passive writing is weak and wordy.
It ruins the flow.
An example:
The girl was smiled at by the boy.
The boy smiled at the girl.
Use this test 👇
12 writing mistakes to avoid:
· Adverbs
· Too wordy
· Big words
· Being boing
· Passive voice
· Hedging bets
· No specificity
· No formatting
· Writing to a crowd
· Sounding academic
· Same sentence length
· Writing & editing together
If you enjoyed this, 2 requests:
1. Drop me a follow @itskierandrew for ideas on writing, philosophy and business
2. Share the thread so others can read
Just click below and up you go, cheers.
https://t.co/8WfN86MAJI
Most people suck at writing.
— Kieran Drew (@ItsKieranDrew) August 16, 2022
But if you avoid these 12 common mistakes, I guarantee you won\u2019t:
\U0001f9f5
But if you're interested in attracting an audience, building your business and creating killer copy, you'd love my newsletter A-B-C.
Come join 5.5k writers here:
https://t.co/YePBTJOIno
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I'm going to do two history threads on Ethiopia, one on its ancient history, one on its modern story (1800 to today). 🇪🇹
I'll begin with the ancient history ... and it goes way back. Because modern humans - and before that, the ancestors of humans - almost certainly originated in Ethiopia. 🇪🇹 (sub-thread):
The first likely historical reference to Ethiopia is ancient Egyptian records of trade expeditions to the "Land of Punt" in search of gold, ebony, ivory, incense, and wild animals, starting in c 2500 BC 🇪🇹
Ethiopians themselves believe that the Queen of Sheba, who visited Israel's King Solomon in the Bible (c 950 BC), came from Ethiopia (not Yemen, as others believe). Here she is meeting Solomon in a stain-glassed window in Addis Ababa's Holy Trinity Church. 🇪🇹
References to the Queen of Sheba are everywhere in Ethiopia. The national airline's frequent flier miles are even called "ShebaMiles". 🇪🇹
I'll begin with the ancient history ... and it goes way back. Because modern humans - and before that, the ancestors of humans - almost certainly originated in Ethiopia. 🇪🇹 (sub-thread):
The famous \u201cLucy\u201d, an early ancestor of modern humans (Australopithecus) that lived 3.2 million years ago, and was discovered in 1974 in Ethiopia, displayed in the national museum in Addis Ababa \U0001f1ea\U0001f1f9 pic.twitter.com/N3oWqk1SW2
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) November 9, 2018
The first likely historical reference to Ethiopia is ancient Egyptian records of trade expeditions to the "Land of Punt" in search of gold, ebony, ivory, incense, and wild animals, starting in c 2500 BC 🇪🇹
Ethiopians themselves believe that the Queen of Sheba, who visited Israel's King Solomon in the Bible (c 950 BC), came from Ethiopia (not Yemen, as others believe). Here she is meeting Solomon in a stain-glassed window in Addis Ababa's Holy Trinity Church. 🇪🇹
References to the Queen of Sheba are everywhere in Ethiopia. The national airline's frequent flier miles are even called "ShebaMiles". 🇪🇹
1/ Here’s a list of conversational frameworks I’ve picked up that have been helpful.
Please add your own.
2/ The Magic Question: "What would need to be true for you
3/ On evaluating where someone’s head is at regarding a topic they are being wishy-washy about or delaying.
“Gun to the head—what would you decide now?”
“Fast forward 6 months after your sabbatical--how would you decide: what criteria is most important to you?”
4/ Other Q’s re: decisions:
“Putting aside a list of pros/cons, what’s the *one* reason you’re doing this?” “Why is that the most important reason?”
“What’s end-game here?”
“What does success look like in a world where you pick that path?”
5/ When listening, after empathizing, and wanting to help them make their own decisions without imposing your world view:
“What would the best version of yourself do”?
Please add your own.
2/ The Magic Question: "What would need to be true for you
1/\u201cWhat would need to be true for you to\u2026.X\u201d
— Erik Torenberg (@eriktorenberg) December 4, 2018
Why is this the most powerful question you can ask when attempting to reach an agreement with another human being or organization?
A thread, co-written by @deanmbrody: https://t.co/Yo6jHbSit9
3/ On evaluating where someone’s head is at regarding a topic they are being wishy-washy about or delaying.
“Gun to the head—what would you decide now?”
“Fast forward 6 months after your sabbatical--how would you decide: what criteria is most important to you?”
4/ Other Q’s re: decisions:
“Putting aside a list of pros/cons, what’s the *one* reason you’re doing this?” “Why is that the most important reason?”
“What’s end-game here?”
“What does success look like in a world where you pick that path?”
5/ When listening, after empathizing, and wanting to help them make their own decisions without imposing your world view:
“What would the best version of yourself do”?
