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Juan David Campolargo

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Hi Maria,

Remember when you and your husband welcomed me into your home, and we chatted over the best pesto pasta I’ve had in the U.S.? The warmth of that conversation still remains, much like the inspiration, I hope this letter ignites in you.

Your dream of writing a book, I saw it in your eyes that day. But why wait? Your life—with all its laughter, tears, love, triumphs, and joy—is already the first draft.

Forget about the daunting mountain of a book for now. Instead, start planting seeds of ideas in the most fertile soil ever in the history of the world, the soil of the internet. Over the past five years, I’ve watched those seeds grow into a forest of nearly 200 essays and a few books. More importantly, writing became the medium by which I transcend [1].

I’ve learned three important things about writing: (1) writing is a lifestyle, (2) having an audience motivates writing, and (3) editing is a social activity. Now, here’s everything I promised to share with you about how to start writing:

1. Writing is a lifestyle

• Write for 30 minutes every day. Treat it like a ritual, just like brushing your teeth. Write on birthdays, holidays, when you’re tired, or even during the half-times of soccer games of the future soccer star. Write in the bathroom or while stirring a pot of the delicious pesto sauce. If you need to, wake up a bit earlier. If 30 minutes feels too long, start with just 5 minutes—even 1 minute counts!
• Use a daily writing habit tracker. See mine here. Copy yours here.
• Create a writing playlist and only listen to it when you’re writing. This is the fastest way to get into the zone. Here’s my writing playlist. For example, I listened to Behind The Sun on repeat while writing the Flying Series, and I had a specific playlist for SIMÓN.
• Keep an “ideas” note on your phone to collect sparks of inspiration. I have a note with over 1000 ideas.
• Write with a specific person in mind. When Warren Buffet writes his annual shareholder letters, he writes as if he were writing for his sisters. That person does not need to know you’re writing for them. In fact, that person can be yourself.

2. Having an audience motivates writing

• Publish your writing. It’s not enough to just write, you have to publish. It's like inviting guests over—you'll naturally tidy up your thoughts. This gentle pressure will polish your writing.
• Publish consistently. It’s not enough to just publish, you have to publish consistently. For nearly four years, I published an essay every single Sunday. Quantity is quality.
• Writer’s block is fake. Just write. Don’t judge yourself. Let whatever comes out flow freely. Don’t edit as you’re writing. Don’t worry whether it’s good–just write. [2]
• What should you write about? Whatever you want! Follow your intuition. Write because you have to, not because you want to. By the way, living an interesting life is the best way to become a writer.

3. Editing is a social activity

• Editing is when writing begins. You can’t edit what you haven’t written so write shitty drafts and edit them!

• Get good at editing. Show, don’t tell. Write like you talk. Use clear and simple language. Be descriptive. Here’s another editing strategy [2].

• Get feedback. Create a Google Doc and ask friends or people you admire to comment. I usually ask:

  • What seems boring?
  • What seems interesting?
  • Specific questions for that person

• Ask, ask, ask: Getting feedback on your writing is a great way to meet people you admire and stay in touch with friends. I once emailed Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman about an essay on statistics. To my surprise, he replied with useful comments. Imagine you’re writing about lessons from the 26 constants of the universe to our everyday life, you can email Brian Greene, Carlo Rovelli, and whoever really. Here’s an email template you can use:

Hello (name),

I enjoyed (reading their book, interview, or anything you admire about them).

I specifically liked (add a concrete thing they said and why it resonated with you).

A little bit about myself: (in a few words, who you are).

I wrote an essay about (talk about what the essay is about). It's really interesting and thought-provoking. Would appreciate your feedback.

Can I send it over?

It’s a short (10 min) read, and if you’re up for it, I’ll share specific questions for you. You'll love it!

Best Regards,
(name)

• Use Substack. It's the simplest way to start writing online, combining a website, blog, and email newsletter. Here’s mine. I have a separate website with all of my essays and use Substack as my distribution. [3]

 

Find Your Path

Maria, I hope these are just signposts of your writing journey. Remember, the world is waiting for stories only you can tell–about fulfillment, family, living in three different countries, quantum physics, meditation, technology, dreams, and everything in between. Follow the path that makes your heart race and your fingers itch to type. There's no right or wrong way—only your way. Find it.

The words you share have the power to attract interesting people, open up new opportunities (wink wink, like writing your book) [4], and lead you down paths you never imagined. Some of the most fascinating connections in my life have come through my writing. After all, that's how we met.

I can’t wait to read your writing and see where your words will take you.

Cheers,
Juan David Campolargo

 

 

Notes

[1] From The Book of Everything:

In many ways, The Book of Everything is the essence of my life. As I continue to write and learn, I hope to discover what it’s all about as I look back. But writing isn’t the end but rather the medium by which I transcend.

My friend Ananya described it beautifully:

A novice calligrapher first starts by learning the basic brush strokes and movements. Then, as he gets more advanced, he understands how to use the brush and canvas as mediums through which to express his ideas. Eventually, he becomes erudite and makes the art his own.

To many, this represents the pinnacle of mastery. But to attain total mastery, he must transcend the limitations of his brush and canvas. He realizes that the ultimate truth is omnipresent, and so he no longer needs his brush to write or his canvas to paint. When such a level of understanding is reached, his mind becomes his brush and the world his canvas. So, calligraphy is used as a medium to experience the Way.

Personally, I prefer martial arts as my vehicle in my journey of self-mastery. So, like calligraphy, it is a method and process from which I develop my own artistic and personal impressions.

The point is, we must focus on understanding the Ultimate Truth or the Way (or whatever you want to call it) through our preferred medium of self-discovery and self-expression (whatever it may be). To each his own.

Like Bruce Lee once said, "it is like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all that heavenly glory."

For Ananya, it’s martial arts. For me, it’s writing.

For you? Search, find, and follow.

[2] I use Alex Danco’s editing practice, How to write strong sentences.

Writing STRONG sentences

It's a good book to read alongside Bill Janeway's Doing Capitalism, which is probably the number one book that has most influenced my own thinking.

Edit 1: Eliminate words that are unnecessary, because they clarify something that doesn't actually need clarification. Let's get rid of "book," everyone knows it's a book.

It's good to read alongside Bill Janeway's Doing Capitalism, which is probably the number one book that has most influenced my own thinking.

Edit 2: if you mean it, say it! Eliminate qualifiers, hesitations, and hedges. Let's get rid of "which is probably."

It's good to read alongside Bill Janeway's Doing Capitalism, the number one book that has most influenced my own thinking.

Edit 3: eliminate superlatives when possible. Let's get rid of "number one."

It's good to read alongside Bill Janeway's Doing Capitalism, the book that has most influenced my own thinking.

Edit 4: Get rid of the verb "to be" whenever possible, and replace active verbs. Get rid of "it is good to read."

Read it alongside Bill Janeway's Doing Capitalism, the book that has influenced my own thinking.

You can still get rid of words such as "most," "own thinking," etc.

See Alex Danco explaining it live.

[3] I suggest using Substack because building an audience through an email list is extremely simple.

An email list is the most direct way to connect with your readers and is the true currency of the internet.

A few thoughts on why email lists are so important:

• Email is age-agnostic.
• Everyone uses and checks their email daily.
• It’s the most direct form of communication and, hence the best way to communicate with your readers. 
• You have complete ownership of it, and unlike being on a social network, you can’t be kicked out, or shadowbanned.

Building an email list is the most important you can do on the internet.

[4] What do publishers look for when publishing books? At least, 100,000 email subscribers. That's what they primarily look for because they want to make sure your book actually sells.

How do you get email subscribers? By writing online. It's a flywheel. You write online -> You get email subscribers -> You can publish your book.

 

Appendix: Further reading

• The Ultimate Guide to Writing Online by David Perell
• The Online Writing Roadmap by David Perell
• How I Practice at What I Do by Tyler Cowen
• Writing Advice by Alexey Guzey
• Why Everyone Should Write by Morgan Housel
• Why To Not Write A Book by Gwern

 

I’m grateful to Maria and Gianluca for the inspiration, to Lauren, Gus, and Ian for reading drafts of this essay, and to David Perell for all I’ve learned from him and his classes.

 

 

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