A first step for everything you write

📝 Today’s tip: Start writing something by identifying what you want people to do after reading it.

The writer Michael Thompson, a master of the cold email, uses this question to orient every message he sends: “Have one clear agenda, even if it’s simply to try to get them on a call so you can learn more about them,” he explains. “Make sure your goal is clear so the message you send supports exactly what you are looking to accomplish.”

It’s advice that can apply to anything you write — a memo, a novel, an article. Before you type out a word, identify your “North Star,” as Thompson calls it, and let it guide you.

📚 More from Forge on getting started:

How to Write Anything
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The Most Underrated Productivity Technique Is Also the Simplest
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The Millennial Obsession With Starting Over
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