10 non-obvious ideas that will make you a better writer

There’s a lot of “obvious” writing advice out there.

Show, don’t tell. Know your audience. Avoid cliches.

Etc.

These ideas are useful to a certain point, but then you need to go deeper to continue improving and refining your skill level.

That’s what I want to help you do today.

Here are 10 non-obvious ideas that will make you a better writer:

1. Write something you hope nobody reads

Once in a while, write something you never plan to publish. Knowing the world will never see it, you will be free to write and speak in ways you probably never have before. There will be something “true” in your soul that comes out. Afterwards, ask yourself what’s different about this writing and what is one thing you can implement in the work you do publish.

2. Write your ending first

People say write your hooks first, but readers don’t remember hooks. They remember the feeling you left them with at the end.

3. Study great debaters

I’m not talking about entertainment content. I mean highly skilled debaters. Lincoln, Churchill, Socrates, etc. Study how they structure their thinking, frame arguments and anticipate counter-points. This level of thinking produces great writing.

4. Write the opposite perspective

If you have a strong stance on something, try writing an equally strong stance on the opposing viewpoint. It will force you to examine your own thinking in a different way. You may not change your stance, but you’ll have a richer understanding of it.

5. Play with formats

Take the same idea and write it as a social post, an essay, a legal argument, a poem, a children’s story. It’ll flex your creative muscle and help you practice the skill of communicating the same message to different audiences.

6. Write something boring beautifully

Pick a mundane task. Tying your shoes, brushing your teeth, washing dishes, cutting the grass, whatever. Now try to describe someone doing that thing in the most beautiful and creative way possible. The goal isn’t to wax poetic. It’s to train your brain to see everyday life moments in new ways. This skill will translate to your work.

7.  Deconstruct your past self

Find an old piece of writing and write something new deconstructing it. Examine the points you tried to make. Critique the voice, tone and structure. Explain how you’d write it differently now. Periodic self-review accelerates your skill and shows you how much progress you’ve made.

8. Write without adjectives

This may feel limiting at first, but it will force you to focus on action, verbs and specific details. Your writing will get stronger, sharper and more concise.

9. Storyboard instead of outline

Rather than outlining a piece of writing, mock up a quick storyboard of the idea. The visual nature of a storyboard will force you to think in scenes. People remember stories, and stories are carried by scenes.

10. Reject anything that’s not helpful

Just because “show don’t tell” works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you. If any idea or advice does not immediately unlock something in your writing, throw it out.

Writing is a blend of soul and science. 

It’s up to you to find the right blend.

Two ways I can help:

1. Simple Writing with AI

I run a cohort-based course on Maven that’s great for anyone looking to become a better writer / communicator and build foundational AI skills.

In this two-week live course, you’ll learn a system for writing and working effectively with AI, saving you hours per week and increasing your impact at work.

You can enroll in an upcoming cohort here.

2. Team Trainings

I work directly with teams (virtual and in-person), helping them build foundational skills for writing and working with AI.

If AI training and enablement is a priority for your team, reply to this email or email me at [email protected] and we can discuss.

Here’s what one executive said after a recent workshop with his team:

Thanks for reading, y’all. Have a great week.

P.S. I love hearing from readers. Did this email resonate with you? Reply and let me know. I read every one.

Cheers,

Teddy