Cultivate Interesting Writing

Summary: Derek Thompson emphasizes the importance of cultivating an intuition for what is interesting and crafting ideas to resonate deeply with readers. He suggests young writers should avoid trying to appear overly refined or intelligent and instead aim to connect with their audience on a more personal, relatable level, like a friend sharing insights. Embrace being wrong as a means to discover profound truths, while also building credibility through demonstrated trustworthiness. Keep alive the 'rant bone' to explore ideas that may not be fully provable but contain fundamental truths.

• 💡 Develop an Intuition for What's Interesting: Cultivate your taste and intuition to identify topics and angles that capture attention and spark curiosity. Continuously refine your ability to discern what resonates with others.
• ✍️ Write Like a Friend with a Twist: Connect with your audience by writing in a relatable, conversational style, as if you're a knowledgeable friend sharing insights. Incorporate unique perspectives and engaging elements to make your writing stand out.
• 🚫 Avoid Overly Refined Writing: Refrain from trying to impress readers with overly sophisticated language or complex ideas. Focus on clarity and authenticity to ensure your message resonates.
• ✅ Embrace Being Wrong: Don't be afraid to explore unconventional ideas or challenge existing beliefs, even if it means being wrong at times. Embrace intellectual humility and view mistakes as opportunities for growth and discovery.
• 🤝 Build Trust and Credibility: Establish yourself as a trustworthy and reliable source of information by consistently delivering accurate and insightful content. Cultivate an audience that values your perspective and expertise.
• 🗣️ Keep Alive the 'Rant Bone': Allow yourself to explore unconventional ideas and express passionate opinions, even if they are not fully provable. Embrace the freedom to challenge conventional wisdom and provoke meaningful discussions.
• 🎯 Seek Truth Authentically: Prioritize the search for truth over insisting on being right. Maintain an open mind and be willing to consider different perspectives in pursuit of deeper understanding.

Key Takeaway: Write to connect, not to impress; seek truth, not just to be right.

Notable Quotes: > ...one of the things I think scares a lot of young writers, they feel like they have to like get into the tuxedo. That's not what people want. People love to be talked to as if it's a friend, as if it's a friend with something else, friend with a twist. —Derek Thompson