List: Writing hacks | Curated by Clive Thompson

Nov 21, 2023
11 stories
61 saves
Writing hacksThings I've learned from 25 years of magazine journalism
Clive Thompson
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Creators Hub
How To Tell When You’re Done With Research? Using “Saturation” TheoryOne Weird Trick I learned from a psychologist helps me figure out when to stop researching — and to start writing
·6 min read·Nov 7, 2021
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Clive Thompson
How I Research A New SubjectThere’s no magic bullet. It’s mostly about sheer, dogged persistence
·8 min read·Feb 28, 2023
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Clive Thompson
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Creators Hub
One Weird Trick for Writing a First DraftSeriously, it’s really weird. But it’s helped me for 25 years!
·5 min read·Apr 30, 2022
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Clive Thompson
You Don’t Have Writer’s Block. You Have “Reporter’s Block”If the words won’t come, stop trying to write — and do more research
5 min read·Jul 16, 2021
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Clive Thompson
How I Take Notes When I’m Doing ResearchWriting personal summaries of what I encounter turns raw info into knowledge
·6 min read·Aug 31, 2022
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Clive Thompson
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Creators Hub
‘Park Downhill’ to Help Finish a Piece of WritingAt the end of the day, stop somewhere fun — so it’s easier to get started tomorrow
·5 min read·Apr 7, 2022
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Clive Thompson
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Creators Hub
Switching To A Different Word Processor Can Kickstart Your WritingHow one weird trick — harnessing the “novelty effect” — can help when you’re trying to revise a piece
·7 min read·Oct 13, 2021
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Clive Thompson
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Age of Awareness
Writing Tools I Use All The TimeMy go-tos for reporting, research, and writing
·8 min read·Oct 31, 2022
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Clive Thompson
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Creators Hub
In Defense Of The M-DashWriters worry they overuse it. They shouldn’t — it’s awesome
·6 min read·Apr 1, 2022
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Clive Thompson
How To Practice “Productive Procrastination”Can’t face work? Then cultivate some side projects — and turn your work-avoidance into fun, useful diversions
·7 min read·Jan 26, 2023
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Clive Thompson
The Power of the “Two Shot” In Nonfiction WritingTalking to someone is interesting. Watching them do something, even more so
·7 min read·Dec 28, 2022
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