Writing Is Hard Work, The Whiteboard Method, Focusing On What Matters & More

Kia ora Doctors and Writers!

Welcome to the 19th edition of the newsletter.

Today we're going to address a common issue amongst writers: the struggle to connect with readers without losing focus or authenticity.

If you’ve ever felt like your writing says too much but leaves little impact, this is for you.

Today at a Glance:

Question: Are You Prioritising Volume Over Clarity?

Quote: On Focusing On What Matters

Framework: The Whiteboard Method

Idea: Writing Is Hard Work

Video: Succint, Punchy, and Useful Writing

Question: Are You Prioritising Volume Over Clarity?

It's easy to get carried away as you write and lose focus on what it is you're trying to say. From experience, I can say this happens more times than I'd like to admit, and that's exactly where today's question comes in.

Does your writing say a lot yet say nothing of substance?

It’s easy to fill paragraphs with long explanations and extra words that weaken your core message. However, you need to remind yourself that your readers aren't here for the fluff. They're simply looking for something meaningful, actionable, and ideally thought-provoking to take into their day.

If you've found yourself in similar positions, two strategies can help you find the perfect balance between clarity and volume:

1. Pretend that every word had a $100 valuation

2. Read, revisit, and apply The Clarity Funnel from the 13th edition

Quote: On Focusing On What Matters

The lesson: Procrastination is a writer's greatest enemy. New writers today handle everything from figuring out where to share their work to setting up their systems to write. But only a few prioritize the act of writing itself. Yes, it's good to be organized. It's good to have a unique arsenal of ideas in place. However, the essence of writing is writing itself. That's how you get better, and that's how people find your work. When in doubt, focus on that and that alone.

Framework: The Whiteboard Method

Today's method is a simple way to strip your writing down to its core and make sure every word earns its place in your final draft. Welcome to The Whiteboard Method.

Here’s how it works:

1. Summarize Your Idea In 10 Words

Before you write, create a hypothesis of your entire piece limited to a single sentence with no more than ten words. It's not going to be easy, but this will anchor every word you write.

2. Keep 50% Or Less

Next, find the current word count and read your piece again with the aim of eliminating 50% or more words. This, once again, will not be easy, but I promise it makes a world of difference. Specifically, pick out confusing terms, words that are not emotionally compelling, and sentences your readers would have to think twice to understand.

3. Read It Out Loud

The single best litmus test for your work is to read it aloud before you hit publish. Better yet, read it out to your friend or partner, and try to catch the moments your flow is interrupted or a sentence feels too complex. Once that happens, take it as your signal to rewrite that specific sentence and carry on.

Idea: Writing Is Hard Work

Most people won’t tell you that writing isn't meant to be easy. Those who glamorize it and say it should always feel effortless either don’t write for a living or don't write enough.

Just like when you go to the gym for the first time, you know you have a lot of work ahead of you. But as you keep going, day after day, week after week, and year after year, you'll soon build the foundation for a stronger and healthier you.

The grind is part of what makes writing so special, and truthfully, there’s no shortcut. Sometimes you have an idea you're incredibly excited to write about, but other times you just have to slog out each word one at a time.

Just remember you grow by showing up on the days you least feel like it. Those brief moments where nothing feels right, are always that will test you the most, but also the ones that shape you into a better writer.

Video: Succint, Punchy, and Useful Writing

To tie the concept of clarity and connection together, this week's video is a podcast episode with a modern-day renaissance man, Derek Sivers. Derek discusses everything from keeping things simple to the process of how he wrote many of his best-selling books. Enjoy!

Alright, that wraps up this week’s newsletter.

We hope you this helpful and are very excited to see you put these lessons into action.

You can always reach out to us with any thoughts, questions, or feedback. We're here to help you with your writing goals.

Have a lovely week ahead.

— Adi and Pranav