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Observational Skills

Tim Ferriss emphasizes the importance of focusing on the subject matter before the writing style, using the success of "50 Shades of Grey" as an example. He argues that a compelling premise can capture the imagination of an audience, even if the writing quality is not top-notch 1. Ferriss shares an exercise from McPhee's class, where students were tasked with interviewing "invisible people" like service staff to make their stories interesting 1. This exercise highlights the power of observation and the ability to find intriguing stories in everyday life.

Worry about the what first. Because if your subject matter is meh...maybe you shouldn't assume that you're going to have the superpowers to pull that off.

--- Tim Ferriss

David Perell adds to this by recounting a story about a teacher who challenged students to write extensively about a simple fish, teaching them to look deeper and find details that are often overlooked 1.

   

Writing Assignments

Writing assignments that push the boundaries of creativity and detail are crucial for developing a writer's skill set. Tim Ferriss discusses a writing exercise where students were asked to write about an abstract statue at Princeton, encouraging them to explore and describe the unfamiliar 1. This type of assignment forces writers to engage deeply with their subject, enhancing their ability to convey intricate details and emotions.

One of the writing assignments we had in McPhee's class...was effectively interviewing invisible people, like people who are largely ignored.

--- Tim Ferriss

David Perell highlights the "look at your fish" story, where students were tasked with writing about a fish over an extended period, teaching them to see beyond the obvious and uncover layers of meaning 1.