What the library says about writing
What each hook, mechanism and goal does, by the numbers.
Authority: what 22 posts that lean on it have in common
22 posts in the library lean on authority, reaching a median of 891 likes. Eight that use it, what it travels with, and how to use it without faking it.
PatternsCuriosity gaps: what 98 posts that lean on it have in common98 posts in the library lean on curiosity gaps, reaching a median of 926 likes. Eight that use it, what it travels with, and how to use it without faking it.PatternsIn-group signals: what 20 posts that lean on it have in common20 posts in the library lean on in-group signals, reaching a median of 916 likes. Eight that use it, what it travels with, and how to use it without faking it.PatternsLoss aversion: what 224 posts that lean on it have in common224 posts in the library lean on loss aversion, reaching a median of 534 likes. Eight that use it, what it travels with, and how to use it without faking it.PatternsOpening a curiosity gap: 19 posts, and what the best ones do19 posts in the library open with a curiosity gap, reaching a median of 723 likes. Eight that worked, what separates the top quarter from the rest, and how to write one.PatternsOpening against the consensus: 13 posts, and what the best ones do13 posts in the library open with a contrarian take, reaching a median of 478 likes. Eight that worked, what separates the top quarter from the rest, and how to write one.PatternsOpening by addressing the reader: 111 posts, and what the best ones do111 posts in the library open with direct address, reaching a median of 755 likes. Eight that worked, what separates the top quarter from the rest, and how to write one.PatternsOpening mid-scene: 43 posts, and what the best ones do43 posts in the library open with a story, reaching a median of 964 likes. Eight that worked, what separates the top quarter from the rest, and how to write one.PatternsOpening with ”stop doing this”: 18 posts, and what the best ones do18 posts in the library open with a ”stop doing this”, reaching a median of 470 likes. Eight that worked, what separates the top quarter from the rest, and how to write one.PatternsOpening with a number: 1,127 posts, and what the best ones do1,127 posts in the library open with a number, reaching a median of 584 likes. Eight that worked, what separates the top quarter from the rest, and how to write one.PatternsOpening with a question: 223 posts, and what the best ones do223 posts in the library open with a question, reaching a median of 493 likes. Eight that worked, what separates the top quarter from the rest, and how to write one.PatternsOpening with an announcement: 398 posts, and what the best ones do398 posts in the library open with an announcement, reaching a median of 1.5K likes. Eight that worked, what separates the top quarter from the rest, and how to write one.PatternsOpening with an observation: 6,913 posts, and what the best ones do6,913 posts in the library open with an observation, reaching a median of 618 likes. Eight that worked, what separates the top quarter from the rest, and how to write one.PatternsPattern interrupts: what 561 posts that lean on it have in common561 posts in the library lean on pattern interrupts, reaching a median of 658 likes. Eight that use it, what it travels with, and how to use it without faking it.PatternsPosts that build in public: what the top 20 did32 posts in the library were written to build in public. The 20 that travelled furthest, how they open, what the analysis says they share, and how to write one.PatternsPosts that drive signups: what the top 20 did71 posts in the library were written to drive signups. The 20 that travelled furthest, how they open, what the analysis says they share, and how to write one.PatternsPosts that launched a product: what the top 20 did519 posts in the library were written to launch a product. The 20 that travelled furthest, how they open, what the analysis says they share, and how to write one.PatternsPosts that share a lesson: what the top 20 did190 posts in the library were written to share a lesson. The 20 that travelled furthest, how they open, what the analysis says they share, and how to write one.PatternsPosts that show proof: what the top 20 did520 posts in the library were written to show proof. The 20 that travelled furthest, how they open, what the analysis says they share, and how to write one.PatternsPosts that tell a story: what the top 20 did247 posts in the library were written to tell a story. The 20 that travelled furthest, how they open, what the analysis says they share, and how to write one.PatternsPosts written to build an audience: what the top 20 did7,214 posts in the library were written to build an audience. The 20 that travelled furthest, how they open, what the analysis says they share, and how to write one.PatternsPosts written to hire: what the top 20 did45 posts in the library were written to hire someone. The 20 that travelled furthest, how they open, what the analysis says they share, and how to write one.PatternsPosts written to start a debate: what the top 20 did29 posts in the library were written to start a debate. The 20 that travelled furthest, how they open, what the analysis says they share, and how to write one.PatternsReciprocity: what 222 posts that lean on it have in common222 posts in the library lean on reciprocity, reaching a median of 1.1K likes. Eight that use it, what it travels with, and how to use it without faking it.PatternsSocial proof: what 285 posts that lean on it have in common285 posts in the library lean on social proof, reaching a median of 633 likes. Eight that use it, what it travels with, and how to use it without faking it.PatternsSpecificity: what 2,057 posts that lean on it have in common2,057 posts in the library lean on specificity, reaching a median of 655 likes. Eight that use it, what it travels with, and how to use it without faking it.PatternsVulnerability: what 71 posts that lean on it have in common71 posts in the library lean on vulnerability, reaching a median of 530 likes. Eight that use it, what it travels with, and how to use it without faking it.