???The writing GPS
Tomas Laurinavicius
Growth Marketing Experiments & Automation | Growth Manager at Rewardful
Luck is a skill.
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca
?? Hi! I’m Tom, and this is the?Best Writing Newsletter (Issue No. 20). Read online →
I share great reads, tools, jobs, tips, and friendly encouragement to do your best writing.
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I just finished reading A Skill Called Luck by Jakob Greenfeld and highly recommend it. Only 64 pages.
It’s an excellent example of how creating a short ebook can help you distribute your ideas while you sleep.
I wanted to reshare the following story with you to encourage you to produce more.
“A ceramics teacher announced on opening day that he was dividing the class into two groups. All those on the left side of the studio, he said, would be graded solely on the quantity of work they produced, all those on the right solely on its quality.
His procedure was simple: on the final day of class he would bring in his bathroom scales and weigh the work of the “quantity” group: fifty pound of pots rated an “A”, forty pounds a “B”, and so on.
Those being graded on “quality”, however, needed to produce only one pot — albeit a perfect one — to get an “A”.
Well, came grading time and a curious fact emerged: the works of highest quality were all produced by the group being graded for quantity.
It seems that while the “quantity” group was busily churning out piles of work – and learning from their mistakes — the “quality” group had sat theorizing about perfection, and in the end had little more to show for their efforts than grandiose theories and a pile of dead clay.”
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Writing Tip of the Week
???The Writing GPS. Jay Robb shared his thoughts and observations from Ann Handley’s book, Everybody Writes.
If you want to stand out, you can't be "singing the same exhausted words and tired phrases," says Ann.
“Don't tell me what you do. Show me who you are - and then show me why you matter to me.”
To start telling a better story, build off the answers to the following questions from Ann:
What's unique about your business or organization?
What's interesting about how your business or organization was founded?
What's interesting about the founder(s)?
What problem are you trying to solve for others?
What inspired your business or organization?
What are the aha! moments for your business or organization?
How's your business or organization evolved?
How do you feel about your business/organization, customers and yourselves?
What's an unobvious way to tell your story? Can you look to analogy instead of example?
What do you consider normal and boring that other folks would think is cool?
And what's your vision? How will your company/organization change the world?
“That last question is especially salient because it's central to your bigger story: How will you change the world...even a little bit? How will you make it better for all of us?”
Best Writing Examples
Discover sharp copy, inspiring quotes, and powerful messaging from the best apps, websites, magazines, and books.
Pet food brand encourages nutritional diets with tiny billboards in dog poop .
“Best Time For Braces” clever billboard ad .
领英推荐
Powerful copywriting samples by Gymit , tailor-made for the average Joe.
Best Reads
Favorite stories from Writer News .
???Niche Site Idea. Looking for a side gig idea for 2023? Adam Crookes shares an idea for a hiking gear niche site with specific keywords you can target. Check his feed for more ideas.
???Writing is a Single-Player Game. Your subscriber count is not the number of humans you're playing with, it's your power level against algorithmic demons.
????Jeanette Winterson’s Writing Tips. Don’t hold on to poor work . If it was bad when it went in the drawer it will be just as bad when it comes out.
???Writer News ?is a new place for writers to share their work, get feedback, and discuss writing. Invite-only. Join the waitlist here .
Cool Tools
Interesting apps and software for curious writers.
Typeright. Compose mistake-free, clear and simple writing with this AI-powered writing assistant .
Endel. Personalized neuroscience-backed soundscapes to help you focus, relax, and sleep.
Heyday. AI-powered memory assistant that resurfaces content you forgot about while you browse the web.
Cubox. A cozy nook for your daily reading and research. No algorithmic feeds or ads.
Food for Thought
“The degree of one’s emotion varies inversely with one’s knowledge of the facts – the less you know the hotter you get.” – Bertrand Russell
“Serendipity is not a chance event alone. It is a process in which a chance event is seized upon by a creative person who chooses to pay attention to the event, unravel its mystery and find a proper application for it.” – Morton A. Meyers
“A writer is a world trapped in a person.” – Victor Hugo
“Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.” – Alan Watts
“The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson
Did You Know?
??? Bordering on the edge of superstitious , American novelist Truman Capote steered clear of starting or finishing his writing on any given Friday.
Furthermore, if the phone number of the hotel room he was staying in had the number 13, he would change rooms.
Best Writing Jobs
Find your next writing job, freelance gig, or side hustle.
Full-Time Content Writer at Applico (Remote, US)
Full-Time Content Writer at Basis (Remote, India)
?? Check?all open roles ?or become a member to get?daily job alerts .
Hiring writers? Use the code “FIRSTJOB” at checkout to get $100 off your?first job post .
Did You Like the Newsletter?
???Want to get featured or collaborate? Let’s talk .
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Until next week,
Tomas Laurinavicius
Co-founder,?Best Writing ?(formerly? Content Writing Jobs )
P.S. People selling mirrors online . ??