Comments on: The U2 Method of High-Impact Writing

By: The Importance of Being Grateful « Mokhov

The Importance of Being Grateful « Mokhov — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:15:14 +0000

[...] formula for unleashing your creative genius, and Mary Jaksch for letting me guest write on the U2 method of high-impact writing. And just all 3 of you (plus Jonathan and Nathan) in general for letting me share my ideas in guest [...]

By: Today’s Resonations « John Poelstra

Today’s Resonations « John Poelstra — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:36:52 +0000

[...] The U2 Method of High-Impact Writing by Oleg Mokhov–Lead with the punch line. [...]

By: amibelle

amibelle — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:44:47 +0000

This is perfect advice. Thanks. I always feel that U2’s song are deeper than most. I love how you’ve transfered it to writing.

By: Omnia

Omnia — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:31:44 +0000

Thank you so much , I really enjoyed reading through

By: Gianpaolo Pietri | The Optimalists

Gianpaolo Pietri | The Optimalists — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:15:01 +0000

Great advice. I always focus very much on the end. And usually make it the strongest part of my posts, but never thought about taking that and moving it up to the intro, and coming up with an even stronger ending.
I always seek a good intro, but maybe think of it initially as ending will help strengthen its impact. Yet it makes great sense. Let’s see how it works on paper ….

By: Oleg Mokhov

Oleg Mokhov — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:56:16 +0000

@Robert:

Thanks for your comment.

I follow a 2-1-3 order in writing an article, where 3 is the most high-impact point. I wrote the 3, then moved it to the beginning to be a 2 and wrote a new 3.

I re-worded the paragraph once I moved it to the beginning to better fit as an intro. But I did mention the 3 steps in the end originally.

By: Robert Earle Howells — Surefire Writing

Robert Earle Howells — Surefire Writing — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:17:22 +0000

Write a strong lede. That’s standard and eternal advice, whether framed in a catchy U2 context or a boring journalism textbook.

But make your strongest point your conclusion? If by “conclusion” you mean the end of the story, way down there at the bottom of the sea where so many readers don’t bother to dive—that’s called burying the lede. Not a good idea. That’s where you want a strong or pithy kicker that leaves the reader feeling at once satisfied and savoring resonant overtones. Like the last line of an Emily Dickinson poem. A reward for having stayed with you. You wrote a good one in this post.

If, however, you mean by “conclusion” the paragraph right after the lede—the nut graf—that can be very effective. You hook ‘em and then set the hook. Good writing.

Also, I find it hard to believe that the opening paragraph of your post was originally the conclusion. You introduced a three-step method in the LAST paragraph of the story? Really?

By: The U2 Method of High-Impact Writing | Write to Done « sähköpaimen.fi

The U2 Method of High-Impact Writing | Write to Done « sähköpaimen.fi — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:08:03 +0000

[...] So simple, yet so effective. via writetodone.com [...]

By: Tess The Bold Life

Tess The Bold Life — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:10:49 +0000

This is excellent advice. I love U2. Who doesn’t?

By: Oleg Mokhov

Oleg Mokhov — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:55:49 +0000

@Rick: I’ll remember to utilize that tip ;)

@Ching: A cool way of thinking about writing – after we catch the reader’s attention, we ease them in throughout the rest of the article. Not only do they get an enjoyable read but get the clear value too.

@Jennifer: Yep. Songwriting tips can be applied to any creative field, and vice versa.

@Miguel: Glad it was indeed to the point. The U2 method in action :)

@Gail: Agreed. Perfect is the enemy of great. Rather than endlessly picking at the unessential details, we should focus on the main message and making that as high-impact as possible.

@Julie: What’s awesome about songwriting (and just writing) tips is that it can be applied to film, painting, games, or any other creative endeavor.

@Eleanor: Thanks. Glad you dug the U2 spin on a writing tip. Their songs do pack a punch melody and lyrics wise, so we can definitely learn some awesome writing tips from them.

@Flying Llamafish: Thank you, and what an awesome name you have.