Your English teacher screwed you.
Here are the 14 lies they told you that made you a bad writer:
Here are the 14 lies they told you that made you a bad writer:
They told you writing doesn't make money.
But not only does writing help you in every area of life, you can make millions writing online. I make over $3k/mo as a side hustle and I'm just getting started.
But not only does writing help you in every area of life, you can make millions writing online. I make over $3k/mo as a side hustle and I'm just getting started.
They told you to meet the word count.
There are no word counts in real life. Good writing is clear. Good writing is concise. Ditch the filler, adverbs, prepositions, and fluff. You get bonus points if you achieve your goal in fewer words.
There are no word counts in real life. Good writing is clear. Good writing is concise. Ditch the filler, adverbs, prepositions, and fluff. You get bonus points if you achieve your goal in fewer words.
They told you to use long words.
Twitter knows this is wrong, but they tell you to use the short ones. Instead, use the right ones. Sometimes, the long word is the best. Sometimes, the short one is. Think about the precise meaning and emotion you want. What is the best word?
Twitter knows this is wrong, but they tell you to use the short ones. Instead, use the right ones. Sometimes, the long word is the best. Sometimes, the short one is. Think about the precise meaning and emotion you want. What is the best word?
They told you to practice writing essays.
But if you want to write a good essay: practice writing tweets, poems, copy, songs and fiction. Each of them will teach you different lessons. And you will learn what works across all writing (and what doesn't).
But if you want to write a good essay: practice writing tweets, poems, copy, songs and fiction. Each of them will teach you different lessons. And you will learn what works across all writing (and what doesn't).
They told you facts are persuasive.
But persuasive prose is about conveying emotion. A good writer can make someone think about their message, but a great writer makes them FEEL it. Use every rhetorical trick you can to convey the emotions you want your reader to feel.
But persuasive prose is about conveying emotion. A good writer can make someone think about their message, but a great writer makes them FEEL it. Use every rhetorical trick you can to convey the emotions you want your reader to feel.
They told you not to repeat yourself.
Actually, repetition is a powerful tool. Say beef liver disgusts you. Now say it's gross, vile and utterly inedible. Which is more powerful? The repetitive one. Repeated words are powerful if you use them right. IF you use them right.
Actually, repetition is a powerful tool. Say beef liver disgusts you. Now say it's gross, vile and utterly inedible. Which is more powerful? The repetitive one. Repeated words are powerful if you use them right. IF you use them right.
They told you not to repeat yourself.
(Sorry, couldn't help it, carrying on...)
(Sorry, couldn't help it, carrying on...)
They told you to quote statistics.
Instead, tell a story. Stories make us feel. If you can hook people into a story, you can take them anywhere. There is a reason every good self-improvement book is 80% story (and why great fiction is more powerful than them all).
Instead, tell a story. Stories make us feel. If you can hook people into a story, you can take them anywhere. There is a reason every good self-improvement book is 80% story (and why great fiction is more powerful than them all).
They told you not to copy.
But you should copy the heck out of anything good. See a good headline? Save it. See a good sales email? Save it. See a good description in a book? Save it. Then read over them as you write, remix them into your own words and use it.
But you should copy the heck out of anything good. See a good headline? Save it. See a good sales email? Save it. See a good description in a book? Save it. Then read over them as you write, remix them into your own words and use it.
They told you not to reuse.
But you should reuse content over and over in different ways. Keep trying slightly new iterations, keep rephrasing your ideas. As @onejkmolina says "Twitter is saying the same thing a thousand ways" - and so is all writing.
But you should reuse content over and over in different ways. Keep trying slightly new iterations, keep rephrasing your ideas. As @onejkmolina says "Twitter is saying the same thing a thousand ways" - and so is all writing.
@OneJKMolina They told you to write short sentences.
But short isn't always best. Sometimes a long, meandering sentence sets the tone and opens up the reader's mind to feel the lazy way you want the words to come across. See? Mix it up, and it sounds like music.
But short isn't always best. Sometimes a long, meandering sentence sets the tone and opens up the reader's mind to feel the lazy way you want the words to come across. See? Mix it up, and it sounds like music.
@OneJKMolina They told you to write it in order.
In writing, you really can polish a turd. But first you have to get it out. I have taken that metaphor too far, but your first draft should be rough. Dump the words on the page, worry about structure and flow later.
In writing, you really can polish a turd. But first you have to get it out. I have taken that metaphor too far, but your first draft should be rough. Dump the words on the page, worry about structure and flow later.
@OneJKMolina They told you to perfect it.
But published beats perfect every time. Make it good. Then get it out there! See if it works, and you can fix it later if it doesn't. Reuse and improve: You'll make more progress writing 500 pieces than rewriting one piece 500 times.
But published beats perfect every time. Make it good. Then get it out there! See if it works, and you can fix it later if it doesn't. Reuse and improve: You'll make more progress writing 500 pieces than rewriting one piece 500 times.
@OneJKMolina They told you to write formally.
Write naturally. Let the words flow, use contractions, use simple words, make it direct. Use colourful imagery. Don't write like you've got an audience of professors. Write like you're writing to a good friend.
Write naturally. Let the words flow, use contractions, use simple words, make it direct. Use colourful imagery. Don't write like you've got an audience of professors. Write like you're writing to a good friend.
@OneJKMolina They told you never start a sentence with conjunctions.
But that's wrong. And stupid. And unnatural. It goes back to formality, you don't want to sound like you swallowed a textbook. Start with a conjunction whenever it feels right. And it will read better.
But that's wrong. And stupid. And unnatural. It goes back to formality, you don't want to sound like you swallowed a textbook. Start with a conjunction whenever it feels right. And it will read better.
@OneJKMolina They told you to follow the rules.
But great writing is breaking the rules. So learn the rules. Learn grammar, sentence structure, voice etc. Then break them with flair and abandon, whenever it sounds better. The worst advice in writing starts with "Always".
But great writing is breaking the rules. So learn the rules. Learn grammar, sentence structure, voice etc. Then break them with flair and abandon, whenever it sounds better. The worst advice in writing starts with "Always".
@OneJKMolina I'm building this account to correct the lies you've been told about writing
And teach you powerful, persuasive prose.
If that resonates with you follow me @getpaidwrite.
(And RT the first tweet in the thread to help your audience learn.)
And teach you powerful, persuasive prose.
If that resonates with you follow me @getpaidwrite.
(And RT the first tweet in the thread to help your audience learn.)
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