Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t Summary

Nobody wants to read your sh*t. Everyone’s busy, and life’s too short. Your job as a writer is to make them care.

1. People Don't Naturally Want to Read What You Write

Many budding writers believe that their work will automatically find an audience. That's rarely the case. Readers don’t inherently want to read; they have other priorities. Writing something so compelling that people can’t put it down requires strategy and thought. You have to capture their attention from the very start.

The baseline problem is that most writing is underwhelming. People are looking for emotional connections that resonate with them. They crave suspense, thrills, or beauty. To meet these expectations as a writer, your work needs clarity and purpose while striking an emotional chord.

A writer must shift focus from their own interests to what their audience cares about. This means taking a subject, even a complex one like bird migration, and embedding it with universal themes like love, survival, or adventure.

Examples

• Commercials are avoided unless compelling.
• Students often only write in school because it’s required reading.
• Even family members skip blogs or stories unless they find them gripping.

2. Persistence Pays Off in the Tough World of Writing

Success doesn’t come quickly in the writing world, but persistence and learning from setbacks can help you level up. The author recounts years of rejection before his agent paired him with a seasoned mentor.

Pressfield worked under a senior screenwriter, Stanley, who was technically unreliable but offered valuable insights. Despite doing the grunt work, Pressfield gained knowledge about successful scripts and built contacts in Hollywood.

An apprentice period helps new writers hone their craft while observing the dynamics of the industry. This preparation makes eventual breakthroughs more likely, even if it means enduring difficult circumstances early on.

Examples

• Pressfield's nine rejected scripts before working with Stanley.
• Stanley provided connections to important Hollywood figures.
• Many successful writers, like Ernest Hemingway, began by learning under other professionals.

3. A Winning Concept is Your Secret Weapon

Whether you’re writing fiction, nonfiction, or marketing campaigns, a strong concept is critical. A concept is the central idea that grabs attention and provides cohesion to your work. It’s what makes a car rental company or even ancient myths unforgettable.

Take the Avis Rent-a-Car campaign: by embracing their second-place status with the slogan “We try harder,” they created a relatable and fresh identity. Even Homer’s Iliad thrived because it focused on an engaging slice of the wider Trojan War rather than attempting to tell the whole story.

The beauty of a strong concept is that it lets writers transform tedious or standard materials into something exciting and unique for their audience.

Examples

• Avis’ ad campaign focused on hard work over being the best.
• The Iliad spotlighted Achilles rather than the entire decade-long Trojan War.
• Products like 7UP distinguished themselves as “The Uncola,” creating intrigue.

4. Themes and Problems Build the Core of Any Story

Stories—factual or fictional—revolve around relatable problems and overarching themes. These two elements bring depth and create pathways for the reader to connect emotionally.

In advertising, writers need to start by identifying the product’s problem. For example, 7UP differentiated itself from competitors being "not cola" and thrived. Similarly, fiction benefits from clearly defined themes, like transformation in Breaking Bad, which gave direction to its multiple storylines and characters.

Themes clarify a writer's intent and provide focus, bringing together disparate elements into a cohesive whole.

Examples

• 7UP's problem of competing with Coca-Cola was spun into a unique brand identity.
• Breaking Bad's main theme of transformation kept its complex storylines focused.
• Burger King’s advertising explained how it fought against fast-food giants.

5. Reading Builds Writing, But Patience Forges Authenticity

Great writing arises from practice, but also maturity. Reading extensively sharpens style and understanding of various formats. The author emphasizes visiting libraries and tackling classics, which help writers learn new storytelling mechanics.

Beyond external lessons, authenticity grows with age and life experiences. Pressfield notes how earlier in his career, his writing felt insincere or flashy because it lacked substance. Wisdom and real-world experience helped sharpen his voice over time.

Writers should also practice by writing personal items like letters, as they naturally produce honest and grounded tones that resonate.

Examples

• Pressfield studied literary giants like Tolstoy to understand storytelling structures.
• Personal letters can feel more real than a curated novel draft.
• Life’s struggles, like heartbreak or loss, connect readers to the writing emotionally.

6. Structure is Fundamental to Any Good Story

Most stories follow familiar trajectories because they work. The three-act structure helps ideas flow and ensures pacing keeps the audience engaged.

The first act hooks readers and opens the plot, as seen when Silver Linings Playbook introduces Pat and Tiffany. The second act builds tension, often through antagonists or challenges. Finally, the third act delivers a resolution, whether triumphant, tragic, or bittersweet.

Epic-length narratives may extend or modify structure, but the underlying goals—engagement and satisfaction—remain constant.

Examples

• Star Wars draws viewers into its world by focusing on Luke’s hero journey (three acts).
• Shakespeare’s plays, including Romeo and Juliet, often fit into the classic structure.
• Lawrence of Arabia breaks its epic story into digestible 8-10 parts.

7. Writing Movies Requires Hooked Audiences and Complex Villains

Screenplays thrive on active engagement. In the first act, introduce characters compellingly. Silver Linings Playbook immediately intrigues viewers by presenting flawed but sympathetic leads.

By the second act, deepen the stakes—highlight opposing forces like a villain. Taking cues from films like The Dark Knight, readers or viewers relish understanding the antagonist's strength.

Lastly, the third act drives resolution. Through emotional fulfillment or surprising twists, films like Bridget Jones emphasize confrontation, growth, and satisfaction.

Examples

• Pat meeting Tiffany in Silver Linings hooks its plot.
• The Joker dominates The Dark Knight’s powerful second act.
• Climaxes satisfyingly resolve character conflict, tying the themes back.

8. Nuanced Characters Attract Great Actors

Well-crafted characters become appealing playgrounds for high-caliber actors. Memorable individuals, like the leads in Forrest Gump or Out of Africa, wander into complexity beyond surface storytelling.

Themes are key to nurturing strong characters, with topics like fleeting moments or morality imbuing depth beyond plot mechanics. Build personalities intertwined with rich dilemmas, and actors will gladly bring them to life.

Examples

• Meryl Streep gravitated toward Baroness von Blixen’s layers in Out of Africa.
• Tom Hanks' iconic roles reflect flawed but compelling humanity.
• Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson brought Something’s Gotta Give to sparkling life.

9. Nonfiction Thrives with the Same Rules as Fiction

Writing nonfiction doesn’t mean it should be dry or purely factual. Nonfiction enthusiasts crave gripping storytelling as much as novel readers do. Themes are just as critical to uniting narratives.

A biography, for instance, isn’t just about recounting dates. Focusing on a theme, like resilience on the frontier, can shape your ancestor Rosie’s life story into an engaging tale that resonates universally.

Like fiction, nonfiction aims to inspire, guide, and connect, making structure and themes indispensable tools.

Examples

• Pressfield’s nonfiction book The War of Art uses conflict resolution techniques.
• A biography about Rosie could emphasize the American dream instead of events alone.
• Historical accounts revolving around themes (e.g., courage) reframe dry data accessibly.

Takeaways

1. Keep your readers hooked by addressing their needs instead of solely focusing on your interests.
2. Keep writing and reading consistently; your authentic voice and skill sharpen with time.
3. Use themes to unify your story, whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, or even marketing copy.