On a mission to become a better writer, thinker, and entrepreneur • Ex-dentist, now building an internet business (at ~$500k/year)
But can’t AI write for you now?
|
Last month in Thailand, I met a German guy outside a massage parlour (not that kind of massage). We got talking about work. I explained I was a writer and that I coach people how to write, too. He asked: “But can’t AI write for you now? What’s the point of writing yourself?” I must have been feeling relaxed after my massage. Because instead of berating him like I would a social media AI-bro, I explained why writing is much more than words on a page. The skill dances hand in hand with the quality of your thoughts. The clearer you write, the clearer you think. And at a time of rampant superficiality and almost infinite noise, thinkers stand out most. When you outsource your writing, you outsource your thinking—a dumb decision. Consider what Paul Graham wrote recently about AI: “In preindustrial times most people's jobs made them strong. Now if you want to be strong, you work out. So there are still strong people, but only those who choose to be. It will be the same with writing. There will still be smart people, but only those who choose to be.” Reader, the crowd will always follow the path of least resistance. But this is a slippery slope to the place of most difficulty. With writing, this means uninspiring ideas, generic style, and no substance. Considering there are over 200 million content creators now, you can’t afford to be average. So if everyone uses AI, do the opposite. Lean into overlooked techniques. It’s why I’ve been talking about copywork this weekend. Handcopying great writing is the most effective way to write like the pros. It’s slow, but not everything needs to be fast. Paradoxically, patience is the fastest way to improve. And my friend Derek Johanson has a fantastic course called Copyhour. In it, he gives one of the best explanations of copywriting I’ve read, spread over a 90-day email course. Each email takes a few minutes to read, and he recommends 35 minutes of copywork 5 days a week. It's been one of the most enjoyable and effective courses I've taken (there’s a reason 4,000 students have gone through the material). The deadline to sign up is tonight at midnight, and it won’t be available again for 3-4 months. Take a read here: https://portal.copyhour.com/a/2148027147/bFZHG8wY Cheers, Kieran P.S.I’m not suggesting to ignore AI completely. I use it every day. It’s a fantastic thinking partner and business assistant. Derek has AI components in his course, too. But you still need to commit to the skill of writing. Why? Well, just because you have the tools, doesn’t mean you have the ability. Give me a saw and I can’t build a house. Give me an oven and I can’t bake bread. The people who try to sell you on the idea that it’s good to write with AI already know how to write. Think about that. Take the time. It’s worth every word. https://portal.copyhour.com/a/2148027147/bFZHG8wY |
Kieran Drew
On a mission to become a better writer, thinker, and entrepreneur • Ex-dentist, now building an internet business (at ~$500k/year)
This month, I crossed my 5th year as a writer. I can’t find the exact day because I spent my first summer fumbling through attempts to get going. But I can safely say this: Deciding to write was the smartest decision of my life. I’ve never worked harder or dealt with more doubt, fear, and uncertainty. But I’ve never learned more about life as a result. And if I had to boil down my early success to one thing, it would be this: Persistence. Because you can overcome 99% of problems simply by...
Earlier this year, I started writing my first book. My first challenge was deciding what to write. I had two choices: Digital Freedom. How to build your online brand and business from scratch Magnetic Writing. How to build your brand and business by writing online The difference might seem minimal, but the vibe is completely different. One is focused on beginners who have zero clue what they want to do (like me as a dentist). The other for people passionate about building a writing-first...
I gave a live call to Justin Welsh’s private community last week. Funny story: I was visiting a friend a few months prior and explained proudly that I was giving this training. She replied, asking if I was getting paid for it. I wasn’t. I felt embarrassed because my friend gets paid well to give training. But I asked Justin if I could give the talk. My monkey-mind kicked in—feeling small by comparison. “If I was a better writer maybe he would’ve contacted me,” I thought to myself later....