Amy Rafferty Slagle

Writing is my passion. Making people laugh is my heart. Laugh Hard, Laugh Often.

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

Are you choosing the right side of the token? https://t.co/jYVLzLmDbC

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

@SquarespaceHelp I'm unable to set up my google analytics account. It looks like I have one, but it isn't collecting data. I'm trying to add my id tag and can't find the "Advanced" selection in settings on the sidebar of my Squarespace account

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

Trump's New Ad Just Broke The Internet https://t.co/j5OH55laei via @YouTube

[Eddie Shleyner 🇺🇦 @VeryGoodCopy]

𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬:

Whatever your politics, it’s impossible to deny Barack Obama’s communication prowess.

He’s a magnificent storyteller, and as fine a writer as they come. And in the preface of his memoir, 𝘈 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥, Obama shares how he writes first drafts:

“I only write longhand,” he explains, “computer word processors give the first draft too much polish, and more opportunity to make half-baked ideas tidy enough to appear passable.”

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿.

I recognized the sentiment, though I’d never fully acknowledged it in my own process:

I don’t write longhand (my hand cramps) but I write on my phone a lot, using one finger, 𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨. In fact, almost every idea, note, and yes, first draft I've ever produced for VeryGoodCopy have been written on my phone, in a Google doc, pecking away, slow and steady, 𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘬-𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘬-𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘬.

Writing this way — with a self-imposed physical restriction — forces me to be thoughtful and intentional and rational about every word, every punctuation mark, everything I put down. When I’m on my phone, the idea is expressed slowly, methodically, unlike when I’m typing on a keyboard at 60 words per minute and everything is suddenly there and seemingly right.

Writing slow is thinking slow, which, according to Nobel Prize winner, Daniel Kahneman, is how we 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be thinking if we want clear, coherent thoughts.

And what’s good copy if it’s not clear and coherent?

𝗧𝗼 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬.

And to write slow, create bottlenecks between your thoughts and the words you put on the page, especially when writing a first draft:

Write longhand.
Write with one finger.
Write with physical restrictions.

𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲, 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬.

Go on.

———
Image: Pete Souza/Wikimedia Commons

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

Parents of young children need to watch this to make sure it's not happening to their children.

Is My Kid Learning How to Read? Part 1: Purple Challenge https://t.co/Zr7iNQdAEH via @YouTube

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

I just subscribed to Desk Notes by Charles Schifano https://t.co/0j9ecBhKaN

[National Education Union @NEUnion]

Today we’ve written to @nadhimzahawi. If teachers don’t receive the above inflation pay increase they deserve, we will be balloting for industrial action.

It's time to #ValueEducation and #ValueEducators

[Marius Hauken @mhauken]

@feedbin I hope you've found this thread helpful.

Follow me @mhauken for more.

Like/Retweet the first tweet below if you can:

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

@VikkiRossWrites Some good writer magic… 🪄

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

@RealCandaceO I wonder how many comments have been removed from this thread that speak the truth. Empty headed followers that aren’t willing to stand up for their own rights fill this thread. The truth is...many many people believe exactly what Candace does. Like sheep to the slaughter...

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

@mrbobodenkirk I’ve been worried about you! So glad you are ok 😘. Number one fan 😁

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

@KrisKling This is what I get...

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

Ann Handley’s newsletter is such a fun read. It’s full of the latest marketing tips and writing ideas. You can subscribe for free with this link....totally worth it. I love it!👌🏻😁.
https://t.co/a5Lcv4MSrX

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

This is a shout out to all teachers. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! https://t.co/b3ZuUfiBgo

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

Missing our Mustangs! #RRMS https://t.co/fBPLozfTOG

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

@BertShowBert Hahaha! Right? Zima is more powerful though...I have never been so sick. Until I met Tequila.

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

car rides with amy https://t.co/qYzyeaecgw via @YouTube

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

@BertShowBert Oh no.

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

@dshaseth You know it!

[Amy Rafferty Slagle @TheDailyColonic]

Endless Isolation: Dream or Nightmare? https://t.co/UxfMLDZ9KY