The Shiny Dime Challenge

A Shiny Dime is a specific and surprising idea. It's the singular focus of a piece of writing. And it's a concept that will help you capture attention in a crowded world.

Hey writers,

Welcome to week one of the Shiny Dime Challenge. Today, you’ll learn the most important characteristic of a Shiny Dime: specificity. 

Say One Thing 

New writers often make the mistake of trying to cram every experience, story, or lesson they’ve ever learned into one piece. The result? They confuse their readers, exhaust themselves, and ultimately, ship mediocre work. 

On the How I Write podcast, Tim Ferriss said, “There’s a glut of mediocrity in the world. Don’t contribute to it.” And he's right. Most online writers don't know what they're trying to say, or they're trying to say too much. Instead of making the same mistake as everyone else, narrow your scope.

This is your first lesson on the Shiny Dime: say one thing.

Paradoxically, the universal is found in the personal. The best way to reveal macro truths is to write about the micro. If you want to resonate with more people, be specific.

Imagine this: You’re sharing your ideas online for the first time, and you set out to write “87 Lessons I Learned from 40 Years in Project Management.” Chances are, you’re going to burn yourself out — fast. But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

All you need to do is communicate one idea clearly. Sounds simple, but almost no one does it — because no one knows how. Learning how to properly structure your ideas is a skill that takes practice. By focusing on less, you can say much more. 

Take Robert Caro’s The Power Broker for example. 

Caro was fascinated by politics and New York City history, but instead of writing a broad, sprawling volume titled “The History of Politics in New York City,” he analyzed the life of one man: Robert Moses. By choosing the narrowest possible scope, Caro could reveal universal truths about New York and the nature of political power in America.

So, here’s a good rule of thumb: Make it easy on yourself! Don’t try to write your magnum opus. Instead, narrow your scope. Zoom in on one idea. Then, go deeper on that idea — not broader. And don’t set out to write 5,000 words; start with 500. You’ll be surprised how much you find in such a small space.

Today, head into Circle and get yourself familiar with the platform.  On Wednesday of this week, you’ll receive your very first writing prompt of the Shiny Dime Challenge.

Happy writing! 

The Write of Passage Team