A&B #67

🙏 Support:This week's newsletter was made possible by Ship 30 For 30.Ship 30 for 30 is a cohort-based course that will teach you the fundamentals of writing on the internet. You'll learn how to become a better writer, create engaging content, and build an audience in just 30 days. Learn more about Ship 30 For 30 here. Use this link to save $20 on the course.(PS: I signed up for the course so if you join too we'll be classmates) 😉

Hey everyone,

This week I shared several tips for becoming a better reader.

Here are some helpful guides and videos:

• Here's my note-taking process, I call it A.N.T.S. (Alex's Note-Taking Strategy).

• Here's a visualization of my note-taking process.

• Here's a video on how to read ANY book in just 1 week.

• Here's a video on when you should quit a book.

Alright, let's dive into this week's newsletter.

📚 Book Lessons:

This week's book is The Art and Business of Online Writiing by Nicolas Cole.Nicolas Cole is one of the most viral writers on the internet–his articles have received 100+ million views. In his book, Nicolas breaks down the art and business of online writing. You'll learn how to create viral content, write attention-grabbing headlines, make a living as a writer, and so much more.Here are 3 lessons from the book:1) The Secret To Great WritingSo how did Nicolas get so many views on his articles? Simple, he followed the formula to great writing: Answering The Reader's Question x Telling Them An Entertaining StoryNicolas noticed that all of the best articles he read or written had one thing in common–they answered a reader's question while simultaneously sharing an entertaining story along the way. Once you understand this formula, you'll see it everywhere (threads, articles, books, etc.). So before you start writing your next piece of content, ask yourself, what's an entertaining story you can share to make your writing both helpful and fun to read?2) Be A Data-Driven WriterTo become better at any skill, you need a short feedback loop that tells you what's working and what isn't. For writers, that feedback loop is likes, views, and shares.If one of your posts gets a ton of positive attention, it's a sign it resonated with people. And chances are they would like more content about that same topic. So if one of your blog posts or Twitter threads goes viral, don't just see it as a "win" and move on. Instead, question why that post did so well and think of similar content ideas about that topic.Additionally, think of ways you can repackage it onto other platforms or expand it into a longer, more valuable asset. For instance, if your Twitter thread goes viral, turn it into a blog post or chapter in a future book.  Use data to your advantage to create more amazing content that your audience will love. 3) Give Away 99% of Your Work For FreeOne of the best strategies to make a living as a writer is to give 99% of your work for free, and only charge for the remaining 1%.Why?Free (and valuable) content leads to more followers, more brand awareness, and more trust.So how do you make money if 99% of your content is free?You charge for access and convenience. Charge for 1:1 consulting calls, speaking gigs, or other forms of access to you. Also, charge for convenience such as when you organize and package your content into books and courses.Remember: If you have trouble building an audience with free content, it's going to be near impossible to build an audience with paid content.

✅ Actionable Advice:

1) Remember the forumula for great writing:

• Answer the reader's question while also telling them an entertaining story.

• If you can entertain people while also helping them, they will love you for it.

2) Use data to become a better writer:

• Share your writing on a public platform, see what gets the most positive attention, and think of ways to create similar content around that topic.

• Also, think of ways you can expand or go more in-depth with that winning piece.

3) Give away 99% of your writing:

• By giving away the vast majority of your best content, you'll gain more followers, build more brand awareness, and build trust with your future customers.

• Charge people for access to you (such as consulting calls) or for convenience (such as packing all your best content into a course).

🎧 Podcast Update:

No new podcast this week. Instead, check out my YouTube that went viral and got 23,000+ views:

• 5 Books To Understand Human Behavior

📖 Reading Lesson:5 Tips to remember more of what you read.

⭐️ Weekly Quote:Smart people read lots of books.Successful people apply lots of books.(share here)

Thank you for your support everyone, I'll see you next Sunday!Read on,Alex W.