5 Dead-Simple Writing Techniques I'm Implementing ASAP

I won’t add this to the list.

But the first thing I’m going to do is make my intro shorter.

Why?

Because people don’t like reading long intros.

They just want to get to the main point.

So let’s dive in:

Stop stating the obvious.

I remember when I first read The Autobiography of a Yogi. There was a phrase I kept reading over and over again:

Master said, “In such passages as ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me’ (John 14:6), Jesus meant never that he was the sole Son of God, but that no man can attain the unqualified Absolute, the transcendent Father beyond creation, until he has first manifested the ‘Son’ or activating Christ Consciousness within creation. Jesus, who had achieved entire oneness with that Christ Consciousness, identified himself with it inasmuch as his own ego had long since been dissolved.”

This stuck with me because I had never thought of it that way.

I always believed Jesus was the Son of God because that’s what I had been told. I have looked up to Him and followed his examples. Yet, I never thought about the idea that we could be exactly like Him because we are all divinely created.

That’s the power of explaining something in a new way.

It’s why I still read self-improvement books.

Some people don’t like self-improvement books because they think they already know everything in them.

But the best self-improvement books are the ones that introduce new ideas or explain old ideas in a fresh way.

That’s what I look for whenever I read. Even if most of the book covers things I already know, sometimes one small insight changes my perspective completely.

It’s the same when reading blog posts, listening to podcasts, or taking online courses.

Sometimes, one or two takeaways make the whole thing worth it.

So when writing, don’t state the obvious. Instead, give the reader something new. Ask yourself:

• How can I say this in a way no one else has?

• Can I explain it from a different angle?

• Does the reader already know this?

• Have they heard this phrase before?

Most bad writing happens because of laziness.

And the difference between bad writing and good writing is just time.

Spend a little more time on it—so you’re not repeating what people already know.

Focus on words, not time.

While doing cardio at the gym, I listened to an interview with Ava on How I Write Podcast.

The interview was over an hour long and full of great insights. But one idea stood out:

Ava said:

“The only way to get good at something is to practice. And if you’re afraid to practice because you’re embarrassed, you’re not gonna get good at it.”

When Ava started, she set a goal to write 1,000 words per day.

This wasn’t the first time I had heard of this idea. But before, I didn’t think it was a good approach.

Some ideas don’t need 1,000 words.

Some things should be short; others should be long.

I didn’t want to force everything into 1,000 words.

So I focused on writing for a set amount of time instead of hitting a word count.

The problem with writing for a specific amount of time is that it’s easy to waste time.

I’d sit there with my timer and fool myself by “thinking, rewriting, or editing” instead of actually writing.

A 1,000-word goal forces you to put words on the screen.

Whatever you’re thinking, you have to write it down.

The more words you get out of your head, the easier it becomes to express your thoughts.

That’s the goal.

To improve, you need to write more words.

Maybe it’ll take 30 minutes. Maybe it’ll take an hour. But you need to produce more words.

Since I work 9-5, I only have 1-2 hours a day to write.

So I’m using constraints to my advantage.

Add one surprising element per section.

According to statistics, 97% of writers who start a book NEVER finish it.

That might not shock you.

You probably knew that a lot of writers give up.

But you probably didn’t know it was that high—97%!

That means out of 1,000 writers, only 30 finish what they start.

Did you see what I did there?

I taught you something new.

I included a statistic.

One way to make writing more engaging is to add at least one surprising detail per section.

Some ways I plan to do this:

• Personal story – This is the hardest because I don’t share much about myself online. But it forces me to reflect on my experiences and explain my thoughts better. It also helps readers relate because they might be going through something similar. This requires either being vulnerable or showing strength—both make people want to keep reading.

• Borrowed story – This forces me to consume content intentionally and curate good ideas. A lot of what I read fades from memory after a few days. Writing about it helps me remember while saving the reader time.

• Research or stats – Beginner writers rarely take time to research, but it’s an easy way to stand out. Even the best writers spend hours gathering facts. If they do it, so should you.

Use metaphors and comparisons when describing.

One of my favorite ways to exercise my brain is by using comparisons.

This helps in writing and everyday conversations.

Good comparisons make your arguments clearer and more memorable.

If you can find the right metaphor, people will instantly understand what you’re saying.

Here’s an example from Derek Hughes, an older man who built a $35K writing business with no prior writing experience:

Stop punching people in the face.

Don’t make your readers suffer.

Your writing should be enjoyable.

In other words, keep the tone positive.

Don’t call your readers lazy.

Don’t tell them they lack discipline.

Don’t put them down.

Instead, inspire them. Show them what’s possible if they work harder, build discipline, and stay consistent.

Writing should challenge you, not your reader.

Become your own number one fan.

I hate to say this, but if you want to improve:

Read your work out loud.

It’s awkward. It makes you feel silly.

But when you do it, you’ll see your mistakes clearly.

It’s like looking at someone else’s work—you suddenly know what needs to be fixed.

Another trick is rewriting your work by hand.

When you do this, your mistakes become painfully obvious.

It’s like watching someone do something wrong and wanting to stop them to show them the right way.

That’s it for today!

Don’t forget, you can still get 50% discount on a coaching program with me (before it closes permanently). We’ll build a simple roadmap together so you can start earning online.

Reply with the word “FEBRUARY” if you want to learn more.