2024 was my first year as a writer.

I had big plans in store, but reality hit me like a ton of bricks:

Writing for an audience is nothing like the writing we’re taught in school.

College trains you to squeeze out papers stuffed with complex words, long sentences, and technical rubbish.

It’s boring, lifeless stuff that no one actually enjoys reading.

But writing for an audience asks the complete opposite.

Your job is to entertain, educate, and keep people coming back.

At first, I was terrible at it.

My newsletters felt stiff, academic, and frankly, boring.

But I didn’t stop.

Fast forward to today: I’ve written 43 newsletters in a single year.

Each one taught me something new about what works and what doesn’t.

I want to save you those countless hours of trial and error.

So I’ve handpicked a list of the top rules I’ve learned this year to make your writing instantly more attractive.

Here are 7 rules to take your writing to the next level (as a beginner):

1. Write to one person

Good writing feels personal.

But I used to write for “everyone.”

The result?

Bland, generic newsletters that didn’t connect with anyone.

They reminded me of those horrible papers I wrote in college.

Now I imagine I’m writing to just one person — the ideal reader.

Give your ideal reader a name, a goal, and a problem you can help them solve.

Then write as if you’re speaking directly to them.

Make them the hero of your writing.

Before: "Everyone struggles with writing."

After: "You’re staring at the screen, fingers frozen, wondering how to make the words flow. That’s the struggle we’re tackling today."

2. Less "I," more "you"

Great writing is a dance between "I" and "you."

You share your personal story, but always make it relevant to the reader.

Here’s how that dance looks in practice:

Before:

This year, I struggled with consistent writing. I was always waiting for inspiration, and my ideas felt scattered. I felt stuck staring at a blank page, wondering if I’d ever find my flow. Then I built a system—a simple framework that helped me show up daily, organize my thoughts, and write with ease. Now, I never deal with writer’s block, and I can’t believe how effortless writing feels.

• 4 "I’s"

• 0 "you’s"

After:

This year, I struggled with consistent writing. Waiting for inspiration felt like torture, and my ideas were all over the place. If you’ve ever stared at a blank page, you know how hopeless it feels. That’s when I built a system that let me show up daily, organize my thoughts, and write without second-guessing. It changed everything for me, and it can do the same for you. With the right system, writing stops being a chore—and starts being a skill you love.

• 5 "I’s"

• 4 "you’s"

See the balance? Your story becomes their story.

You’re not just talking about yourself—you’re making it about them.

3. Write with the “Reason Why”

When you make a bold claim, explain why it matters.

People want reasons to believe you.

In school, I was that annoying kid who always asked, “Why?” Teachers hated it. “Why is this important, professor?”

Most of the time they couldn’t give a straight answer, got frustrated, and sent me out due to ‘disrupting the class.’

It’s now that I realize that this ‘disruptive behavior’ is a good thing.

When you’re writing, always ask yourself: “Why does this matter?”

If you can’t explain it, your readers won’t care.

Before:

"Clarity is key in writing."

After:

"Clarity is key because people are busy, and if they can’t understand your point quickly, they’ll move on."

4. Use similes, not boring comparisons

Good writing paints pictures in your reader’s mind.

If your writing feels flat, use similes.

Before: His writing was completely flat.

After: His writing was as flat as a pancake.

These are fun! Let’s do another one:

Before: The one-person business idea is exciting for anyone who’s done working a traditional 9-to-5 job.

After: The one-person business idea is like a breath of fresh air for anyone who’s done working a traditional 9-to-5 job.

5. Use the ‘But & Therefore’ rule

Bad storytelling feels like a grocery list:

"This happened, and then this happened, and then this happened."

It’s boring.

Swap ‘and then’ with ‘but’ or ‘therefore’ and see how much more exciting your story becomes.

Before: "I wanted to write better, and then I started a newsletter."

After: "I wanted to write better, but I had no clue where to start. Therefore, I started a blog to practice."

6. Clear, not clever

Fancy words and long sentences might impress professors, but they’ll bore your readers to tears.

If your sentence feels complicated, rewrite it simply.

Clarity wins every time.

Before: "The intricacies of linguistic structures facilitate comprehension."

After: "Simple words make your writing easy to read."

7. Show, don’t tell

Facts are boring.

Stories and examples make your writing come alive.

Here are last 3 before-after examples:

Before: "I had a productive day."

After: "I wrote two articles, replied to five emails, and still had time for a walk."

Before: "This method improves focus."

After: "After trying this method, I went from struggling to focus for 10 minutes to writing for an hour straight without distractions."

Before: "I’ve built better habits."

After: "Now, I wake up at 6 AM, exercise for 30 minutes, and read a book before starting work."

Final words

Every great writer starts as a beginner.

You might not turn into a pro overnight, but these rules will help guide you as you hone your craft.

Let me know which one resonates most with you—I’d love to hear!

Much love,

— Martijn