People read nonfiction to learn and to feel. My framework for ensuring a blog post accomplishes both is to start with a first draft that focuses on "novel" ideas.A novel idea is one that's not just new to the reader, but also significant and not easily intuited. Think of it as new and worthwhile. I've identified five categories:Counter-intuitive — "Oh, I never realized the world worked that way."Counter-narrative — "Wow, that's not how I was told the world worked!"Shock and awe — "That's crazy. I would have never believed it."Elegant articulations — "Beautiful. I couldn't have said it better myself."Make someone feel seen — "Yes! That's exactly how I feel!"Novelty is what gives readers dopamine hits. You find novel ideas by pursuing your curiosity and noting what interests and surprises you along the way. If it intrigues you, it'll likely intrigue your readers too.

Counter-intuitive — "Oh, I never realized the world worked that way."

Counter-narrative — "Wow, that's not how I was told the world worked!"

Shock and awe — "That's crazy. I would have never believed it."

Elegant articulations — "Beautiful. I couldn't have said it better myself."

Make someone feel seen — "Yes! That's exactly how I feel!"

Novelty is what gives readers dopamine hits. You find novel ideas by pursuing your curiosity and noting what interests and surprises you along the way. If it intrigues you, it'll likely intrigue your readers too.

What to Write About

Saved by Vince DeSantis and

RelatedCollectionsNotes

Ideas become insights when they meet the following criteria:

Novel—is this idea new or is it at least a fresh take on an existing idea
Actionable—can my audience immediately act on the idea?
High-leverage—when my audience acts on the idea, can it meaningfully change their work or their lives?

[Julian Shapiro]

o be a successful writer, you must have something to write about, and this is where many writers in almost every genre, both nonfiction and fiction, fall short. Many writers have limited education and experience, and they live mainly inside their own thoughts. Unfortunately, unless you are Buckminster Fuller or Stephen Hawking, your thoughts are of

Robert W. Bly • How to Write and Sell Simple Information for Fun and Profit: Your Guide to Writing and Publishing Books, E-Books, Articles, Special Reports, Audio Programs, DVDs, and Other How-To Content