The Good and Great Physician, An Action That Makes Everything Easier, A Writing Masterclass & More

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Welcome Doctors and Writers,

Here are 5 ideas to help you become a better writer this week.

Today at a glance

Question: One action that's made everything easier.

Quote: The good and great physician.

Framework: 3 steps to magnetic hooks.

Idea: Give yourself credit for the things you've done.

Video: Larry McEnerney's writing masterclass.

Question: One action that's made everything easier

Here's a simple prompt for your next set of content ideas:

What's one action you've taken that has made everything else easier?

Go for a walk, brainstorm your ideas, and take some notes.

There's no right or wrong approach here.

It could be a habit you've recently incorporated or an action you've been following for the past few years.

Focus on the essence of the action.

Think about your life before and after you incorporated it.

And lastly, think about how your readers can make it a part of their lives, and start writing.

Quote

The lesson: The need for empathy, understanding, and communication is a key aspect of not just healthcare, but also effective writing.

Framework: Writing magnetic hooks

The hook is the opener for your writing.

Think of it as a first impression; it sets the stage and perception for the entirety of a conversation, a friendship, or even a piece of writing that precedes it.

If it's strong, it creates curiosity; the person on the other side wants to know more.

However, if it's weak, that same person disengages, loses interest, and moves on with their life.

In the writing world, a hook can mean a lot of different things.

On LinkedIn, it's the opening two lines of your post, before the "see more" button.

On Twitter, this is the opening tweet of a thread.

Now hooks have taken us a lot of hours of writing and practice to master.

But the good news is that you can start writing magnetic hooks immediately after this week's newsletter.

All it takes are three fundamental principles to keep in mind before you hit publish:

1. Pattern Interrupt

Most people's timelines are overflowed with redundant information.

So the job of your hook is simple:

Stop your reader's scroll.

A good way to execute this is to include a pattern interrupt, such as:

• Videos

• Call outs

• Pictures

• Statistics

• Fun facts

• Predictions

2. Put the reader first

Always view your hook from the reader’s perspective.

Before they dive into your writing, they want to know exactly what it is they're about to read.

• What's the time commitment?

• What are they getting in return for their time?

• What can they expect to learn about?

• Is there a big and bold promise?

3. Target pain points

Most viral hooks follow basic human desires and pain points.

The writers identify, with extreme specificity, what it is their readers struggle with, and how they can solve that exact problem.

A good matrix of problems and solutions to keep in mind:

• Health

• Careers

• Hobbies

• Business

• Relationships

Idea: Give yourself credit for the things you've done

Doctors often fall into the trap of undermining their successes, attributing them to luck rather than skill and effort. If that sounds familiar, it's time to shift your perspective.

The reason is simple; you've accomplished more than you think.

Think about it: you've worked your way through medical school, graduated, and now treat patients daily. This journey alone is a path tons of people aspire to learn about, and you can be the guide that shows them the way through your words.

Why does this matter for your writing? Well, your successes are excellent starting points to break through initial feelings of self-doubt as a writer.

They provide dozens of experiences you can take inspiration from, which addresses one of the most common concerns of new doctors who start writing online: "I don't know what to write about."

Here's how to get started:

1. Set a timer for twenty minutes

2. Make a list of your accomplishments over the past five years

3. Reflect on the skills, efforts, and experiences behind each achievement

4. Identify which of these paths could benefit others once shared

5. Pick one from your list and write 300-500 words about it

When in doubt, just remember that this isn't about bragging.

It's about recognizing the value in your journey.

Each step you've taken, each challenge you've overcome, is a potential goldmine of insights for others.

Your unique experiences are exactly what make your perspective worth sharing.

Video Masterclass

This lecture by Professor Larry McEnerney is a true masterclass and one of our favourite deep dives on the subject.

Take some time this week to work your way through it and make sure you have a pen and paper nearby.

Trust us, you're going to love it.

Alright, that's all for this week.

Thank you for reading today's newsletter.

If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, just hit reply to this email, we'd love to hear from you.

— Adi and Pranav