Write Like Your Career Depends On It (Because It Might)

I'm going to go out on a limb and just say it: Good writing is important.

Now, maybe I'm biased because I (partially) make my living doing things like stringing sentences together for the Book of the Day on Substack (check it out!) as well as for this humble newsletter. But even if it's not your livelihood, I'm willing to bet you're called on to express yourself in writing on the regular. From birthday cards to wedding toasts to texting, email, and social media posts, pretty much all of us use the written word to express ourselves, to connect, and be understood. In fact, mastering a clear and impactful writing style might be the most powerful way to stand out professionally—not to mention to set yourself apart from those chattering AI bots increasingly crowding the conversation.

So if writing matters - and it does -- we might as well get good at it, right?

Here to help are Melissa Harris and Jenn Bane , authors of the new book Everybody Needs an Editor: The Essential Guide to Clear and Effective Writing. Melissa is a former journalist who spent 15 years writing for outlets including the Orlando Sentinel, the Baltimore Sun, and the Chicago Tribune. She serves as an entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of Chicago and is the founder and CEO of marketing agency M. Harris & Co. Jenn is a professional writer and the creative director of M. Harris & Co.

Drawing on decades of experience in journalism, marketing, and creative production, Melissa and Jenn have developed a technique they refer to as WTFF —Writing, Topping, Formatting, and Fixing. You'll have to read the book -- or at least listen to the summary below -- to get the specifics, but WTFF is a process that results in emails people actually read, social posts that get clicks, and holiday cards that don’t end up in the recycling bin.

Hear co-author Jenn Bane explain the simple principles of effective writing:

Here are five key takeaways to help you sharpen your communication skills:

1. Perfect Your Elevator Pitch Be ready to sell yourself (or your idea) in 30 seconds. Keep it brief, compelling, and memorable. Bonus points for a surprising detail that demands follow-up questions.
2. Not Everything Belongs in an Email Avoid emails for bad news or nuanced conversations. When you do write, keep it short and make it count—nobody wants to read a novel in their inbox.
3. Deliver Bad News with Care If you must write, be direct, honest, and compassionate. Avoid empty promises or overly clever wordplay.
4. Kind Feedback Is Effective Feedback When editing someone’s work, lead with praise, focus on big-picture changes, and let them retain ownership of their work.
5. Respect Boundaries Vacation means vacation. Honor your team’s time away and resist the urge to flood their inbox.

This last one reminds me of a key principle from the book: good writing is largely a matter of respect: respecting yourself and you audience enough to express yourself clearly and kindly. Not to put too fine a point on it, but in my opinion becoming a better writer makes you a better person.

We also heard a lot of other big ideas this week, like:

• How a handful of cultural custodians are protecting humanity's heritage, from the BBC's Eliot Stein .
• Why American history is kinkier than you might think, from University of Delaware historian Rebecca Davis .
• Why humans might want to consider going extinct, from philosopher Todd May.
• How, in an important way, our conversations with loved ones can survive even after death, from author Lissa Soep .

By the way, if you're interested in having these and thousands of other big ideas in your pocket, download the Next Big Idea app.