F.A.S.T.

Writing Guide

Whenever I’m pressed for writing time, I follow the acronym FAST. It stands for find,
assemble, speak, and teach.

Print this worksheet and write with it whenever you’re writing under a deadline.

Step 1: Find
Collecting ideas is the first step to writing from abundance. Don’t focus on how relevant each idea is. As long as it resonates,
write it down. Save quotes, stories, data, observations, and personal experiences.. Include one of each.

1. ____________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________________

6. ____________________________________________________________

7. ____________________________________________________________

8. ____________________________________________________________

9. ____________________________________________________________

10. ____________________________________________________________

David Perell Write of Passage

 Step 2: Assemble
Now that you have an abundance of ideas, it’s time to give them structure. Anchor your ideas with a thesis. Then, write your
main points and include the stories, evidence, and supporting points that support them. This is a rough outline, so prioritize
speed over perfection. If it helps, set a timer to keep yourself moving.

One Sentence Thesis: ________________________________________________

Main Point #1: _____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Main Point #2: _____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Main Point #3: _____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Conclusion: _______________________________________________________

David Perell Write of Passage

 Step 3: Speak
Talk about your ideas out-loud, as if you’re explaining them to a friend. Doing so will force you to structure your ideas.,
especially if you use a timer to keep your summary succinct.

I suggest using an app like Otter to transcribe what you’re saying. Often, it helps to repeat the exercise because you’ll clarify
what you’re saying every time you repeat yourself. Condense what you said into a 200-300 word summary, similar to the
abstract of a scientific paper.

If it helps, talk to friends too. Pay attention to their clarifying questions because they’ll identify the holes in your argument.

Quick Summary: ____________________________________________________

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Summary Box: _____________________________________________________

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_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

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David Perell Write of Passage

 Step 4: Teach
Now, it’s time to publish your ideas.

In the same way that inviting people into your home forces you to clean up your room, sharing your ideas with other people
forces you to clean up your thinking. Those who enjoy your work will return the favor and teach you in return, often by filling in
the gaps in your knowledge.

As you edit your writing, I suggest that you follow my CRIBS editing formula.

If you can, share your words with a friend who can look for things that are (1) confusing, (2) repeated, (3) interesting, (4) boring, or
(5) surprising.

1. Confusing: If your writing is confusing because you’re trying to sound smart, replace your SAT words with ones that
everybody understands. Alternatively, it may be proof that you haven’t thought enough about what you’re trying to write. If
so, clarify your ideas by simplifying them.

2. Repeated: Delete the repetitive parts. Good writing is concise so by definition, if you’re repeating yourself, your writing isn’t as
concise as it could be.

3. Interesting: Add prominence to your interesting ideas by writing more about them. “Interesting” is the holy grail of online
writing. It happens when insight meets entertainment, when you comfort the confused or confuse the comforted.

4. Boring: When something is boring, delete or rewrite it. The answer depends on if your writing is boring because of the ideas
themselves or how you’re communicating them. If the idea is the problem, cut it. Or, if your delivery is the problem, rewrite the
boring sections.

5. Surprising: Delete everything that’s not surprising. Then pretend you’re a horror movie director by building suspense before
every surprise. Surprising ideas break the reader’s mental model for how the world works, either by comforting the confused
or confusing the comforted.

Recommended Next Steps

Short Articles YouTube Videos

• FAST Writing • How to Write Online

• Learn to Write Fast • Grow Your Business by Writing
• Why You Should Write • How I Write Long-Form Essays

Long Form Articles Podcasts

• The Ultimate Guide to Online Writing • Seth Godin: Writing Every Day
• How to Cure Writer’s Block • Morgan Housel: Writing for the Internet
• Expression is Compression • Patrick McKenzie: Internet Famous

David Perell Write of Passage