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Why I never use writing templates
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Hi Reader, Spend any time online, and you’ll find dozens of writing templates. The owners claim these writing templates will save you hours creating content. The wantrepreneurs behind the latest AI tools get particularly excited about them… probably because they don’t write or create content. I collected these templates for years. I’ve a library stuffed full of them. Templates for social media posts Blog posts Articles Book chapters And even newsletters. But you know what? I almost never use them. Writing templates are a crutch, at best. They’re more likely to slow you down. And at worst? They’ll suck all personality and originality from your writing. Here’s one storytelling template that went viral a few years ago. It’s from the storytelling boffins at Pixar: “Once upon a time, there was______. Every day _______ .One day________. Because of that,______. Until finally ______.” On first read, this template sounds like a great time saver. If that template worked for films like Finding Nemo and Toy Story, surely I can use it for my content? Then, I’ll write a great story that my readers love! Cue applause and dollars in the bank account. I tried to turn that storytelling template into useful content. I wasted hours shoehorning content ideas into that template instead of, you know, writing my first draft. Try using it, and let me know how long it takes to write something valuable… Now, don’t get me wrong. Sometimes, templates have their place for new writers. Occasionally, I’ll pull up a content template on a coaching call. I’ll use it to explain how to write a hook or a call-to-action. And I’ll point out the relevant line breaks and formatting tricks. It’s like a lecturer using a corpse to teach the basics of human anatomy. But once they understand the network or platform in question, I’ll recommend they put away their writing templates. And don’t look back. You see… The writer who uses templates religiously ends up sounding like everyone else online. And that’s a surefire way to blend into the crowd rather than getting the engagement you deserve. If you need help writing online, I’m running a Pro Writers Only workshop in a few days. I’ll show you how to create a month of content in 90 minutes. Register now. Write on, |
Letters From the Desk of Bryan Collins
Do you want to grow a profitable content business? If so, join 25,000 readers. I share daily insights about personal brand building, writing online and growing a profitable business. It's for creators, coaches and business owners.
For a few years, I paid an editor a few hundred dollars a month to edit my content. When she left for another job, I didn’t hire anyone else. Instead, I started using Claude, and it only costs me $20 a month. That’s a 93% saving, and it’s a lot faster than going backward and forward on Google Docs. Here’s an example of how my AI+human content process works: I spent 15–30 minutes writing a daily email like this one every morning, usually working on a personal story or an angle. After finishing...
Even though I’ve spent years writing online, I woke up this morning and couldn’t think of anything to bash into my MacBook after the kids went to school. And I’d only have half an hour to write this email as I’ve got a call with a client later today. I’ve a near-mortal fear of the flashing cursor or a blank screen. So, I avoided this problem with the Post-It note strategy for a few years. Here’s how it works. Before bed, I write down a single idea on a Post-It like “write 300 words about...
I tested Google Gemini’s content creation capabilities. I wanted to see how it stacks up against ChatGPT and Claude for creating business copy. Google Gemini offers two interesting “gems” (think custom GPTs) for content creators: Copy Creator and Writing Editor. Copy Creator helps write taglines, mission statements, and social media posts. Writing Editor focuses on fixing grammar and improving content structure. I put both through their paces using content from my daily newsletter. When I fed...