By Joel Dare - Written September 15, 2025
How I make my writing resonate with users. The checklist I use to try to make my creative work shine.
This is based on observations about what makes some of my previous work popular so that I can try to repeat those same moves with everything I write. This will be a living document that I’ll update as I use it. See My Blogging Manifesto too, there’s some overlap.
Tell me what I’m going to gain in the very first line. Hook me.
Examples:
How I make my writing resonate with users.
Rapidly build efficient sites with Neat, the minimalist css framework.
Don’t just explain—let people experience the value right away. Make sure the ‘aha moment’ happens within the first 30 seconds of contact.
Examples:
Grab the neat.css and neat.html files. Followed by install instructions.
I do that with these two simple steps: Followed by steps.
Make them feel like part of the journey, not just spectators. Invite comment and dialog.
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