From Ervin / 1 min read

Don't Write 300 Pages

Start with ten important ideas, then add the stories, examples, evidence, and mistakes that make each idea useful to a reader.

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A note from Ervin

Stop thinking: “I need to write 300 pages.” Start thinking:

“I need to explain 10 important ideas.” That's a very different problem. Idea 1 becomes a chapter.

Idea 2 becomes another. Add the story that taught you each lesson. Add examples.

Add evidence. Add the mistakes. Add what most people misunderstand.

Add what someone should actually do. Suddenly you're not “writing a book.” You're explaining what you know.

This is one of the biggest things I want professionals who dream about becoming authors to understand. You don't have to wake up tomorrow feeling like Hemingway. Start with what you know.

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