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 five of the Shiny Dime challenge. Last week, you learned about the first type of Shiny Dime — one-sentence summaries — and you practiced compressing an idea into a snappy one-liner. This week, you’ll learn about another type: coined phrases.

Coined Phrases and Catchy Titles

“Words are generative.” – Jason Silva 

Words have the power to shape reality. Right now, you possess the ability to define culture through language. Don’t believe us? Just look at terms like “solopreneur.” Coined by Write of Passage alum Terri Lonier, you’ll see this term front and center in Twitter bios, highlighted on resumes, and dropped in casual conversation over tacos on Tuesday night. 

The term “solopreneur” is more than a fleeting trend, more than a clever label. It’s an identity. Thousands of people are proud to self-identify as a “solopreneur,” using this term to better understand themselves, pursue their dreams, and communicate their skills.

This is the sort of impact a coined phrase can have.

What Is a Coined Phrase?

A coined phrase is one way to communicate your Shiny Dime. And it can be more compact and more memorable than a one-liner. A good coined phrase is delightful, memorable, and useful. Remember: a one-sentence summary is a stand-alone idea. A coined phrase takes this idea and turns it into a concept with a catchy name, something that readers can grab onto and carry in their pockets.

One-sentence summary: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” 

Coined phrase: “The Golden Rule” 

One-sentence summaries and coined phrases are both Shiny Dimes (a specific and surprising idea that acts as the central message of your piece); they just have a different purpose. One-sentence summaries distill an idea to provide clarity. Coined phrases package this idea in a way that sparks interest. Let’s look at some more examples of coined phrases:

• Imitate,Then Innovate
• The Never-Ending Now
• Staycation
• FOMO
• Digital Detox
• Revenge Bedtime Procrastination 
• Techno-Optimist 
• Taco Tuesday

Each of these coined phrases compresses an idea and represents it in a new way. Like a pioneer welcoming newcomers to uncharted territory, coined phrases help your readers discover and remember your ideas.

How to Use Coined Phrases to Capture Attention

Your ideas, however brilliant, aren’t enough to capture attention online. You still need people to click. 

That’s why coined phrases often make the best titles. They’re mysterious and meme-able, clickable and shareable. They’re catchy; they roll off the tongue; and they’re easy to call upon in conversation or reference over text. And the best examples of coined phrases as titles can be found in film. 

Ever heard of Adventures of Luke Starkiller as Taken from the Journal of the Whills, Saga 1? Yeah, neither have we — because that mouthful of a movie title was the first iteration of one of the most iconic movies ever: Star Wars. George Lucas whittled down a soaring storyline to its absolute essence, its Shiny Dime. And because of that act of compression, “Star Wars” is now as memorable as “Marilyn Monroe.” 

The same is true of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work. Among Ash Heaps and Millionaires is an interesting title, sure, but it doesn’t have the same iconic ring as The Great Gatsby. Clarity as a writer leads to clarity for your readers. If it’s easy to understand and easy to remember, it’s easy to share. That’s why using coined phrases can help you reach new readers.

This week, see if you can identify coined phrases in the wild. What movies or TV shows use a coined phrase as a title? What essays, books, or brands create coined phrases to spread a message? (Hint: Get ready to coin your own phrase later this week!)

Today, head into Circle to read your peer’s Shiny Dimes from last week. You’ll receive your new writing prompt and access to this week’s Circle space on Wednesday. 

Here’s to coined phrases and catchy titles,

The Write of Passage Team