How to Use Writing to Sharpen Your Thinking | Tim Ferriss

About Tim Ferriss:
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded 400 million downloads and been selected for “Best of iTunes” three years running.

Connect with Tim Ferriss:

[JeremieRykner]

Summary Key Points:
- Write to freeze your thoughts and look at them in a different way whenever you want
- lawyers are great at that as they are trained and skilled at looking and thinking about every word and its' meaning
- writing is rewriting
- 2 scrappy pages per day minimum of writing, brain vomit, worthless
- then revise them in at least 3 rounds, first for yourself, second round of edits, for his fans who would love it, third round for the critics who will be twisting everything
- ask people to highlights parts that are unclear
- if something makes you wonder highlight it
- if you doubt it take it out
- indicate the 10% I should keep no matter what
- if I had to cut 10% what would you cut
- Writing systematically and revising systematically will help you in becoming a good and skilled writer
- Writing is the most important practice

[WatchMeBreathe]

"They can love it, they can hate it, but it should not confuse anybody." Great philosophy for anything creative/artistic

[denisZsuave]

Writing has pulled me out of severe depression in the past. Listening to your podcast Tim saved my life. Thank you brother

[damienlee]

Writing is a severely, and sadly downplayed form of art to really discover just who exactly you are.
Thank you, Tim.

[mschrisfrank]

I’ve been writing in my journal every night for the past few years and doing morning pages since the beginning of the year. It has definitely made me less anxious, helped me worked out problems, and focus my days.

[AA-lqpu]

Thank you. My husband is absolutely brilliant at everything, very intimidating, and now I can see what has been helping him. He constantly types out any realizations and thoughts he has. He says that it helped him gain so much clarity on life and where he is going in general. I will also be trying out these morning pages.

[bluedot]

That's good, I prefer sitting in my car a having a two way conversation with myself like a crazy person. Worked out a lot of shit that way.

[rameshiyer]

Just as a photograph captures a moment we cherish, writing captures our thoughts in the moment, helping gain clarity on our thoughts. Writing down our thoughts also helps take the load off our mind from things which may stress us out. Writing regularly helps us become more articulate n analytical, thereby helping in problem solving.

[InnerVisionStudios]

Writing is truly a gift that we can all work on. Thanks for the video Tim.

[MrOssyMoro]

I keep a diary since one year, I found one a year ago I wrote when I was 10 and it was absolut gold. Diaries get crazily precious with time, everything you write isn't worthless after 10 years. This reflect my mind cause I'm an historian...

[TheSurfingCat]

I'm not a professional writer, but these tips really resonated with me and have given me some new ideas to try in my own writing. I would also include YouTube comments, Twitter replies and all other written communications in the "two crappy pages a day". Going back and re-reading your writing a day wiser and with other people's feedback, reactions and consequences presents a valuable lens through which to improve your writing and communication. I imagine looking back through your old videos and listening to previous podcasts has a similar effect. I think it's key to take the layered approach to editing as Tim suggests; be open to receiving feedback at every stage, from different sources and viewpoints, but balancing it fairly with your vision and intention for that writing.

[Malabarismo]

That’s awesome Tim. Thanks for sharing.

Using the CUB review is also great. Asking somebody to read and mark the parts of the text that are CONFUSE, UNBELIEVABLE or BORING.

The reader don’t need a technical background for that.

[Mr.Morten]

Summary:
- Ferris credits much of the success he has had to writing and by constantly practicing writing
- Writing lets you analyze your thoughts and sharpen them to ensure your statements are not confusing - very difficult to do in your head
- Write 2 pages a day, even if they are crappy, that way you set yourself up for improving the next day
- Rewriting is key
Rewriting:
- When rewriting, first rewrite for yourself, then rewrite based on what your fans want, and lastly rewrite based on how critics will twist your words/sentences
- Also have professional writers proof read your work - lawyers or people with legal experience are excellent substitutes
- People can love or hate your work, but it should not be confusing - remove any confusing words or sentences
- When rewriting be aware when your mind is wandering while reading - it can indicate the current part is too slow/boring
- When in doubt take it out

[stevelesliehikes]

I love how Tim Ferriss and Neil Strauss are good friends. Two amazing people, two amazing authors, two amazing mentors.

[ProFilmmakers]

This video is such an amazing source of inspiration and creation. I am a professional filmmaker, working as full-time director and cinematographer and writing is one of the most essential skills for any content creator or visual storyteller. The process of writing happens to be quite a complex process, but I really like the way you broke down this process into simple steps. Thank you.

[nikhillakhmani]

I literally just finished watching Tim and Neil's interview from 2013. Must watch! It's an expanded version of this video.

[gadohimself]

Jordan Peterson has explained this exact same thing a few years ago. Though he deliberately focuses on writing essays to improve critical thinking skills. He even provides awesome guidelines on writing good essays.

[Darth_Pro_x]

I also like the the "ABCD" framework for when other people review your work (not mentioned in the video)

- what's Awesome?
- what's Boring?
- what's Confusing?
- what Didn't you believe?

[alexs]

I can confirm this works.
I've been writing for the past couple months. It improved my focus and thought clarity.

[arturasvaitkus]

I'm not writer. Jus time by time need to write notes, e-mails or give directions. But I found this video very useful and and now I know how and where I have to improve myself. Thank you for advice