Write of Passage Weekly

Hello writers,

Welcome back to Write of Passage Weekly, where you learn how to find your voice and share your ideas online.

Last year (happy 2024!), we talked about the importance of being observant and how you can find inspiration anywhere if you open your eyes. Today, you’ll learn the Architect’s approach to writing online.

Publish in a Day

Do you struggle to get ideas onto the page? Does perfectionism prevent you from hitting “Publish?” In these one-day workshops, students write, edit, and publish something they are proud of. Here’s a selection of articles from alumni of Publish in a Day.

If you’re looking for a deadline, feedback, and accountability, join us on Friday, January 19, to publish your idea in a day.

Write Like an Architect

Imagine you're walking through a cityscape, observing the diverse array of buildings. Some are daringly futuristic while others display a timeless elegance. You, dear writer, are akin to the architects of those buildings. Just as they manipulate form and space to create environments tailored to specific functions, you, the Architect, craft words into fables and arguments that rigidly align with your intent and purpose.

A Personal Monopoly is the unique intersection of your interests, passions, and skills. It’s how you distinguish yourself online. And there are two main ways of discovering what this is for you. You are either an Archaeologist or an Architect. The Archaeologist discovers their unique fingerprint through formless exploration (which we’ll cover next week). The Architect builds their Personal Monopoly by creating a blueprint and executing a plan. The Architect commits to a narrow topic and goes for depth, rather than exploring a variety of topics and going for breadth.

The greatest advantage of being an Architect is your clarity of vision. The topics you select are not random or impulsive but strategic, sourced from a genuine understanding of your own strengths, interests, and the vision you wish to build.

Start with a blueprint of your vision. Deliberate each topic with the precision of a sketch artist selecting their pencils. Refine your focus. Above all, weave the very essence of your individuality into what you write. Choose a narrow footprint, and build a skyscraper. 

As an Architect, your writing is not just an act of laying words on a page; it is the calculated crafting of a legacy, one that will stand out in the literary metropolis with the distinct shape of your thoughts, the structural integrity of your knowledge, and the unmistakable hue of your passions.

You can discover what makes you unique by being either an Archaeologist or an Architect. So, ask yourself: Are you an Architect?

Do you want to double-down on your expertise and commit to a niche? Or do you want to follow your curiosity boundlessly? Do you want to build a skyscraper or explore the country? The Architect is more likely to start a finance newsletter than a fantasy saga, more likely a fashion magazine than a fan-fiction chronicle. 

If you’re not sure, try being an Architect for a day. Bring a blank canvas to your drafting table. Sharpen your pencils, align your rulers, and sketch the outlines of your future works. If you’re an Architect, you’ll make a blueprint and execute it. 

Your Personal Monopoly awaits, not just as a concept but as a monument to your dedication to the craft of writing with intention and vision.

How I Write Podcast (Double Feature!)

Tim Ferriss: How I Wrote 5 #1 NYT Bestsellers

2,000,000 newsletter subscribers. 5 #1 New York Times Bestselling books. 900 million podcast downloads. Tim Ferriss has one of the highest converting — if not the highest converting — creator audiences in the world. And he’s built one of the most lucrative personal brands on the Internet. 

At one point, two of Tim’s books, The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body, were two of Kindle’s all-time most highlighted books (right next to the Bible). Tim doesn’t just sell entertaining books; he packs his writing with useful takeaways that are highlighted by the millions. 

His philosophy? “There’s a glut of mediocrity in the world. Don’t contribute to it.” There are many ways Tim Ferriss rises above mass mediocrity, and we discuss them all in this episode. 

Ultimately, Tim credits his success to experimentation. He’s constantly flipping tables with new formats, structures, narratives, and ideas. He’s on fire for the cutting edge in every area of his life — investing, podcasting, psychedelics — but most of all, in his writing.

Listen Now: YouTube | Apple | Spotify

Tim Urban: Stop Procrastinating and Make Your Writing Fun

Tim Urban used to hate writing because he thought it was boring. Now, he has 600,000+ newsletter subscribers, 811,000+ Twitter followers, and one of the most unforgettable (and hilarious) writing styles on the Internet. 

When he first started blogging, Tim had zero intentions of becoming a capital-W Writer. He had no format; no research; and no stick-figures. He spent over half a decade blogging before he discovered his unique style that we all know and love. So, how do you “accidentally” become one of the best writers on the Internet? 

By having fun. By “playing in the sandbox.” And ultimately, by being you online. 

In this episode, you’ll learn how to develop your distinct voice through experimentation. You’ll learn how to make writing fun, energizing, and productive. You’ll learn how to have the courage to ask questions that no one else asks. You’ll learn Tim Urban’s best advice for how to make your writing fun to read and fun to write.

Listen Now: YouTube | Apple | Spotify

Thank you for reading Write of Passage Weekly. This week, try sketching a blueprint for your Personal Monopoly, and if it doesn’t come naturally, you may be an Archaeologist. In that case, keep following your curiosity (and come back for next week’s issue).

Happy writing,

The Write of Passage Team