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 eight of the Shiny Dime Challenge. Last week, you learned how to use your Shiny Dime as a razor for revision. This week, you’ll revisit coined phrases, and learn the step-by-step method to craft one that’s unforgettable.

The Anatomy of a Coined Phrase

A coined phrase takes your main idea, your Shiny Dime, and turns it into a concept with a catchy name, something that readers can grab onto and carry in their pockets. 

You’ve heard of:

• FOMO
• YOLO
• Staycation
• Antifragile
• Techno-optimist
• Nepo-baby
• Digital Detox
• Retail Therapy
• Quiet Quitting
• Solopreneur

All of these are memorable, meme-able names for specific and surprising ideas.

Coined phrases are how you package your Shiny Dime in its own unique wrapping paper. The concept may be familiar, but how you present it is glossy and exciting. Most importantly, remember that coined phrases make catchy titles. They’re clickable and shareable. 

So, how do you actually craft a killer coined phrase? There are three main characteristics to go for. A good coined phrase is: 

• Lean, not long-winded. It’s easy to drop in conversation. (E.g. “Have you read Erik Hoel’s ‘The Gossip Trap?’”)
• Phonetic, not flat. It’s fun to say out loud. (E.g. “Last weekend, I was feeling FOMO. This weekend, I’m like, ‘YOLO!’”)
• Mysterious, not mundane. It piques interest without giving anything away (e.g. “The Techno-Optimists Manifesto”).

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that coined phrases need to be erudite or overly complex (definitely don’t try to coin a phrase using the word “erudite”). Some of the most memorable ideas are wrapped in the simplest language. Just look at titles like The Great Gatsby or Star Wars or Gone with the Wind — these ring in your head and are practically impossible to forget. 

The goal is to package your main idea (no matter how complex and rigorous) in a way that’s simple and memorable, so that it’s easy to share. A good coined phrase can warp you to the Promised Land of writing: reaching readers who will actually read your work. 

Lean, phonetic, mysterious — that is how you craft a killer coined phrase, so that your Shiny Dime is memorable, clickable, shareable.

Look out for coined phrases in the wild. What sticks in your head, and how can you imitate that in your writing? Get ready for your next writing prompt, on Wednesday, where there will undoubtedly be coined phrases in the making.

Cheers, 

The Write of Passage Team