Read on Twitter
Write of Passage - @david_perell's course - is the best place to go if you want to start writing online.
I finished 1 year ago and have been honing my writing process ever since.
This is how I write 2 articles every month about the greatest humans to ever live.
THREAD
I finished 1 year ago and have been honing my writing process ever since.
This is how I write 2 articles every month about the greatest humans to ever live.
THREAD
1/Consume, but not too much.
I typically read two books per month. This is enough to flood my mind with ideas but not enough to give me information overload.
I also listen to one or two podcasts and read five to ten articles each week.
I typically read two books per month. This is enough to flood my mind with ideas but not enough to give me information overload.
I also listen to one or two podcasts and read five to ten articles each week.
2/Capture the important points immediately.
While reading a book, I keep a pen in my hand. I underline the best sentences, bullet important points, and jot thoughts in the margins.
I’m always looking for good anecdotes.
If I don’t do it while reading, I lose the info.
While reading a book, I keep a pen in my hand. I underline the best sentences, bullet important points, and jot thoughts in the margins.
I’m always looking for good anecdotes.
If I don’t do it while reading, I lose the info.
3/Review the important points.
When I finish a book, I go back through, page by page, and transfer my notes into an Evernote doc. This helps me solidify key concepts and identify common themes, which is important for the next step.
When I finish a book, I go back through, page by page, and transfer my notes into an Evernote doc. This helps me solidify key concepts and identify common themes, which is important for the next step.
4/Classify the important points.
When I finish my notes, I re-read them to identify major themes - things like persistence, courage, or character. Then I color code the sections of the notes accordingly.
At this point, I’ve seen the information 3 times.
When I finish my notes, I re-read them to identify major themes - things like persistence, courage, or character. Then I color code the sections of the notes accordingly.
At this point, I’ve seen the information 3 times.
5/Now it’s time to decide what to write.
I either remember a good anecdote and revisit those notes or read through notes til I find a good anecdote.
Then I scan the notes to find more of the same color highlights to combine.
I either remember a good anecdote and revisit those notes or read through notes til I find a good anecdote.
Then I scan the notes to find more of the same color highlights to combine.
6/Finally, I start writing.
Now I have an idea, lots of notes, and several anecdotes. Most of my writing is arranging the pieces and tying them together in a way that flows.
@david_perell calls this “writing from abundance." https://perell.com/essay/how-to-cure-writers-block/
Now I have an idea, lots of notes, and several anecdotes. Most of my writing is arranging the pieces and tying them together in a way that flows.
@david_perell calls this “writing from abundance." https://perell.com/essay/how-to-cure-writers-block/
7/After I write, I edit.
My first drafts are always shit, so I have to edit a lot.
First, I edit on my own.
Then I ask my friends to edit - H/T to @WritersBlocHQ.
It’s amazing what other people find that I miss. My writing is 1000x better for going through peer editing.
My first drafts are always shit, so I have to edit a lot.
First, I edit on my own.
Then I ask my friends to edit - H/T to @WritersBlocHQ.
It’s amazing what other people find that I miss. My writing is 1000x better for going through peer editing.
8/After I edit, I publish.
Twice every month, I publish a piece about greatness. Each piece is the result of the process outlined above.
It’s easy to repeat and results in consistent publishing of pieces like this one on character: https://josephcwells.com/blog/character-counts
Twice every month, I publish a piece about greatness. Each piece is the result of the process outlined above.
It’s easy to repeat and results in consistent publishing of pieces like this one on character: https://josephcwells.com/blog/character-counts
9/I hope this helps your writing process!
If you enjoyed this thread, sign up for The Lake Street Journal, my newsletter where I share similar self improvement content every Friday.
And make sure to RT the top tweet! https://josephcwells.com/start-here
If you enjoyed this thread, sign up for The Lake Street Journal, my newsletter where I share similar self improvement content every Friday.
And make sure to RT the top tweet! https://josephcwells.com/start-here
