Writing

As a junior lawyer, I had to learn how to make it easy for supervisors to review my work. In case it helps, here's a step-by-step guide (with an example): 1️⃣Make it clear what the matter / document is and when input is needed. 2️⃣ Set out the context and approach to preparing the deliverable What needs to be reviewed, how was it prepared, and what’s the timeline? If you're attaching a document, include the live link to your file management platform (e.g. iManage or Sharepoint) as well as a static version. 3️⃣ Set out the next steps and your ask Make it clear what your supervisor needs to review. Set this out at the top of your email and proactively provide some recommendations. You can also follow up in person to make sure deadlines aren't missed. 4️⃣ Explain how the draft is marked up Make it easy to navigate with specific questions (either in the document or extracted in the email). If there are mark ups against a particular document / version, identify what that is. 5️⃣ Summarise your inputs Let them know what your draft reflects, and attach the relevant inputs so they can see everything in one place. This will give your supervisor confidence that you've captured everything, and make it easier for them to check your work. 6️⃣ Flag key aspects / assumptions If there are key assumptions / principles that have a big impact on how your draft is prepared, it's helpful to set them out in the email as a point of focus. Try to also set out the relevant clause / section / reference where possible. Is there anything else that you'd add? What else have you found helpful in making drafts easier to review, either as a junior lawyer or a supervisor? ------ Btw, if you're a junior lawyer looking for practical career advice - check out the free how-to guides on my website. You can also stay updated by sending a connection / follow. #legalprofession #lawyers #lawstudents #lawfirms

If your paper is getting rejected, it isn’t necessarily the science that’s the problem (it’s likely the journal fit that’s off!). Here’s how you can be be strategic about journal selection. How do I choose the right scientific journal? ↳ Analyze your citation list and target relevant publications. Can impact factor really determine journal quality? ↳ Look beyond numbers, focus on specialized audience fit. How to avoid predatory journal publication traps? ↳ Verify journal reputation before submitting your research. Will editors help improve my manuscript? ↳ Follow author guidelines meticulously. Navigating the academic publication landscape can feel like traversing a complex maze. As a professor, I've learned that selecting the right journal is both an art and a science. Here's a game-changing approach I've developed: 1. Conduct a citation audit: Count journals you've referenced most frequently. These are likely your ideal publication targets. 2. Beyond Impact Factor: Don't get fixated on numbers. A lower-ranked journal with a specialized audience might be more valuable than a high-impact generic publication. 3. Beware of predatory journals: If an unsolicited email promises quick publication for a fee, run! Legitimate open-access journals conduct rigorous peer review. 4. Craft a strategic cover letter: Suggest credible reviewers, highlight your paper's novelty, and demonstrate professionalism. 5. Patience is key: Most journals reject approximately 50% of submissions. Don't be discouraged - each submission is a learning opportunity. Pro tip: Always read and follow the journal's specific author guidelines. This shows you're a detail-oriented, professional researcher. Have you ever struggled with selecting the right scientific journal for your research? What challenges have you encountered? #science #scientist #ScientificCommunication #publishing #phd #professor #research #postgraduate

Keep replaying a challenging event in your mind? Or overthinking something that’s already happened? What if you could turn that mental loop into a tool for growth… and even better health? Dr. James Pennebaker’s ‘Writing Protocol’ is a simple, science-backed way to do just that. In fact, hundreds of scientific studies show that it significantly improves immediate and long-term health. Here’s how it works: 1. Write for 15 minutes, once a week
↳ Tip: Focus on the same emotionally challenging event every time. 2. Keep it raw and unfiltered
↳ Tip: Don’t worry about grammar or structure (this is just for you). 3. Stick with it for 4 weeks
↳ Tip: Make it a ritual. Same time, same place. Over 200 peer-reviewed scientific studies show this practice (which is essentially expressive writing) improves mental clarity, emotional resilience, and even physical health. No gimmicks, no cost. Just you, a pen, and some paper. P.S. Do you ever find yourself overthinking about something negative that happened?

70% use words that undermine their authority. Especially in work emails. 9 phrases I'm retiring from my emails: (and what I plan to use instead) “So sorry for the delay” → “Thanks for your patience” “What works best for you?” → “Could you do…?” “No problem/no worries” → “Always happy to help” “I was just wondering if we…” → “I propose we…” “I hope this looks ok” → “I look forward to your feedback” “Hopefully that makes sense?” → “Let me know if you have questions” “Just wanted to check in” → “When can I expect an update” “Ahhh sorry my bad, totally missed that” → “Thanks for letting me know” ”So sorry to bother you but…” → “I wanted to discuss…” —- Most don’t realize this, Our words shape perceptions. The key is recognizing ones that diminish authority. Then replace them with clear, confident language. Small changes can make a big impact. Start communicating confidently today! Do you find yourself using any of these phrases? Let me know. --- Reshare ♻ to help others communicate more confidently. And follow me for more posts like this.

I get 1M+ Impressions every week. 💥 My most underrated strategy? Pattern Interrupt. 🚨 Pattern Interrupt is all about: ~ Kicking off with a similarity ✅ ~ But then, disrupting the expected patterns 🤯 ~ Breaking norms that users are accustomed to seeing on their feeds. 💥 But how do you do it? By presenting something novel, counterintuitive or provocative, you essentially "interrupt" their mindless scrolling habits. 🧠 An Example of Pattern Interrupt content for LinkedIn: >>Contrarian Perspectives 💯 Instead of posting the typical motivational quote or vanilla career advice, share a bold, controversial opinion that challenges conventional wisdom in your industry. Ex: "Personal Branding is only for CEOs, right? Wrong." 😲 Actionable: ~ Make a list of common beliefs or practices in your field. ✍️ ~ Craft an eyebrow-raising hot take to spark discussion. 🔥 ~ Support with your logic. 📈 The key with Pattern Interrupt is balancing thought-provocation with relevance and value. Don't just say outrageous things for shock value. ❌ Provide a fresh, insightful perspective that ACTUALLY enriches your audience's lives/work while giving them HOOK to pay attention. 🎣

We analyzed 4 million recruiting emails sent through Gem. Most get opened. But only 22.6% get replies. Half those replies are "thanks, but no thanks." We dug into what actually works. Here are 8 factors that drive REAL responses: 1. Strategic timing beats everything else - 8am gets 68% open rates. 4pm hits 67.3%. 10am lands at 67% - Most recruiters blast at 9am when inboxes are flooded - Avoiding peak times alone can boost your opens by 7-10% 2. Weekend outreach is criminally underused - Saturday/Sunday emails get ≥66% open rates consistently - Why? Empty inboxes. Zero competition. Candidates actually have time - Yet few recruiters send on weekends. Their loss is your gain 3. Keep messages between 101-150 words - Shorter feels spammy. Longer gets skimmed - You need exactly 10 sentences to nail the essentials - Every word beyond 150 drops performance 4. Generic templates kill response rates - Generic templates: 22% reply rate - Personalized outreach: 47% increased response rate - Even adding name + company to subject lines boosts opens by 5% 5. Subject lines need 3-9 words - Include company name + job title for highest opens - "Senior Engineer Role at [Company]" beats clever wordplay - 11+ words can work if genuinely intriguing, but why risk it? 6. The 4-stage sequence is optimal - One-off emails are dead. Send exactly 4 follow-up messages - You'll see 68% higher "interested" rates with proper sequencing - After stage 4, engagement completely flatlines. Stop there 7. Get the hiring manager involved - Having the hiring manager send ONE follow-up boosts reply rates by 50%+ - Yet most recruiters don't use this tactic - Weekend advantage: Minimal competition for attention 8. Leadership involvement is a cheat code - Role-specific timing (tech vs non-tech) matters - Technical roles: 3 of 4 best send times are weekends - Engineers check email differently than salespeople. Adjust accordingly TAKEAWAY: These aren't opinions. This is what 4 million emails tell us. Most recruiting teams are stuck in 2019 playbooks wondering why their reply rates won't budge. Meanwhile, recruiters who implement these 8 factors see dramatically better results. The data is right there. The patterns are clear. The only question is: will you actually change how you operate? Or will you keep sending the same tired emails at 9am on Tuesday? Your call.

✍️ Golden Rules For UX Writing. With practical guidelines on how to avoid confusion and help people understand better ↓ ✅ Always write with respect, for people as smart as you. ✅ Write mobile-first: short, plain language, bite-sized chunks. ✅ Decide what to say, then find the shortest way to say it. 🚫 Avoid long buttons: use 2–4 words, max. 25 characters. 🚫 Avoid long links: at least 8 chars, max. 8 words (55 chars). ✅ Use sentence case by default, Title Case only for headings. ✅ Use progress anchors for long forms: “Next: Payment details”. 🚫 Don’t use placeholders as replacement for labels or hints. 🚫 Don’t hide critical details or guidelines behind a tooltip. 🚫 Don’t hide frequently used filters/nav behind a button. ✅ Front-load keywords in headings and text summary. ✅ Make people hunt for destructive buttons to avoid mistakes. ✅ Leave room for translation. Expect your text to grow by 40%. 🚫 Avoid more than 20 words/sentence, 50 words/paragraph. 🚫 Never mix 2+ type treatments (color, bold, indents, italic). Good writing is an incredible opportunity. Not only to help people get work done faster and with confidence, but also to build a strong and lasting relationships. To be charming when users get started. To help without a fuss when things go wrong. To show respect and sincerity, but also understanding and care when it’s needed. One little technique that has helped me is to imagine a real person speaking to the customer before I choose words to communicate something to them. I think about how they speak — from voice and tone to speed and intonation. How casual or formal they are dressed. What their personality is. And, most importantly, what traits, values, beliefs and principles they uphold. A product then needs to match that personality, and adapt tone based on user’s context. Once we have it, we write down all the questions users might have. We re-arrange them in order of importance and severity. We decide what to say, and find the shortest way to say it. And then we test, by reading out a piece of content loud. And if it doesn’t sound right, it doesn’t read right either. ✤ Content Design in Design Systems Atlassian: https://lnkd.in/eGpzQqm4 Amplitude: https://lnkd.in/eaB85T7n 👍 DHL: https://lnkd.in/eF494fkT 👍 Duolingo: https://lnkd.in/egCSX9At Girlguiding: https://lnkd.in/eZ8zMyC3 👍 Gov.uk: https://lnkd.in/ekRadXad Intuit: https://lnkd.in/eGyBUrZ2 👍 JSTOR: https://lnkd.in/eAnyrtcu 👍 MetLife: https://lnkd.in/evVE8sqf Progressive’s: https://lnkd.in/evx_8bzY 👍 Shopify: https://lnkd.in/eAKgEHNW Skrill: https://lnkd.in/e2HGTq4q 👍 Zendesk: https://lnkd.in/euxijT5m 👍 Wise: https://lnkd.in/eWk-Mvf9 ✤ Books – Strategic Writing for UX, by Torrey Podmajersky – Content Design, by Sarah Winters – Nicely Said, by Nicole Fenton, Kate Kiefer Lee – Everybody Writes, by Ann Handley – Conversational Design by Erika Hall – Writing Is Designing, by Michael Metts, Andy Welfle ✏️ [continues in the comments ↓ ] #ux #writing

Most leaders undermine themselves without realizing it. It happens in every email they send. I've coached 100s of CEOs who wonder why their emails get ignored. The pattern is clear: They write like they're asking for permission instead of leading. Here’s how weak leaders communicate: ❌ "Let me know if this works for you..." ❌ "I think there might be an issue..." ❌ "Hope this email finds you well..." ❌ "I was just wondering if maybe..." ❌ "Whenever you get a chance..." ❌ "Just following up again..." ❌ "Does that make sense?" ❌ "Sorry to bother you..." ❌ "I'll try to get it done..." ❌ "I'm no expert, but..." ❌ "Sorry for the delay!" ❌ "I hate to ask, but..." These phrases scream uncertainty. They make recipients think your message isn't worth their time. Great leaders write differently: ✅ "I need your help with this." ✅ "I'll have this to you by 3pm." ✅ "Can you confirm by Friday?" ✅ "Thank you for your patience." ✅ "I need your expertise on this." ✅ "Have you had time to review?" ✅ "What questions do you have?" ✅ "This needs attention by [date]." ✅ "I've identified a problem with..." ✅ "Hi Sarah, I'm reaching out about..." ✅ "Based on the data, I recommend..." ✅ "Please confirm you can meet this deadline." Notice the difference? Clear expectations.  Direct language.  Zero apologies. This isn't about being harsh. It's about being clear. When you water down your language, people assume: Your request isn't important. You're not confident in your ask. They can deprioritize your email. But when you write with conviction: People respond faster Decisions happen quicker Your ideas carry more weight The most successful leaders I know don't write longer emails. They write clearer ones. They don't use more words. They use better ones. Your communication style is your leadership brand. And every weak phrase dilutes it. So starting today, lead with clarity. Write like the leader you are. Watch how quickly things change. ♻️ Repost to help a leader in your network. Follow Eric Partaker for more communication insights. — 📌 Want the high-res version of the Email Like a CEO framework? Subscribe to my free newsletter and I’ll send you the full PDF — plus one concise, highly actionable leadership insight every week to help you communicate with clarity, authority, and impact. Join 235,000+ leaders committed to operating in the top 2%. https://lnkd.in/eJxApzCj

i built this prompt to make me proficient in any technical topic. it's been a godsend. it includes technical depth, but translates every piece of jargon into plain english with a real world example. feel free to steal it: 🧠 Deep Research Prompt Template (Extensible Version) Objective: Create a comprehensive research report on [INSERT TOPIC HERE]. The goal is to build a deep conceptual understanding of the topic — from its theoretical foundations to its real-world applications — so that I can use this as a launchpad for further exploration. Audience: A non-technical but intellectually fluent reader. I’m comfortable following complex discussions, but I’m not formally trained in this technical domain. Tone & Style: - Write in a clear, structured, and explanatory style. - Include technical depth, but translate every piece of jargon into plain English. - After each complex term, formula, or mechanism, provide: a) A plain-language translation (explain it like you’re teaching an intelligent layperson). b) A real-world, tangible example or analogy that makes the idea concrete. Content Requirements: 1) Foundations Section - Define the core principles, vocabulary, and historical context behind [TOPIC]. - Explain why this field exists, what problems it solves, and who pioneered it. - Use simple examples to show the basic mechanics at play. 2) Core Concepts & Mechanics Section - Dive into the key theories, processes, or frameworks that make up the topic. - Introduce any math, algorithms, or scientific models central to the field. - For each technical concept, pair the explanation with: a) A plain-language breakdown. b) A real-world illustration (e.g., from everyday life, business, nature, or technology). 3) Applications & Implications Section - Show how [TOPIC] is applied in real-world systems, industries, or technologies. - Include notable case studies or examples that demonstrate its impact. - Explain why understanding these concepts matters — what it enables or changes. 4) Integration & Broader Context Section - Connect this field to adjacent domains (e.g., how it interacts with math, physics, biology, economics, etc.). - If relevant, trace how the theory translates into practice (e.g., from code → circuits → behavior). - Highlight open questions or ongoing research frontiers. 5) Formatting & Accessibility Guidelines - Use clear headings, subheadings, and summaries at the end of major sections. - Define jargon inline, not in a glossary. - Use metaphors, analogies, or thought experiments liberally. - If helpful, include short “mental models” or “rules of thumb” to aid intuitive understanding. Output Goal: A research-style explainer (typically 3,000–5,000 words) that is educational, accessible, and intellectually rigorous — something that helps a curious but non-specialist reader gain a working, conceptual mastery of [TOPIC].

Most presenters lose their audience before the first slide even appears. After studying hundreds of presentation openings, here are five that consistently work: 1. Start with a “Did you know…” Shock them with a fascinating fact or unexpected insight. Curiosity drives engagement. 2. Use a “What if…” Invite your audience into a possible future. This makes your idea feel like an adventure, not a lecture. 3. Share a secret. Everyone loves insider knowledge. Phrases like “They don’t want you to know this…” spark instant intrigue. 4. Name your audience. “This one’s for designers who…” When people hear themselves, they listen. 5. Address a struggle. “If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to…” connects you emotionally with those who face that exact challenge. The pattern behind all great hooks? They promise transformation. When people sense that something valuable, surprising, or emotional is about to unfold, they keep listening. Don't assume your audience will listen just because you're speaking. Use one of these five openers to earn their attention. #PresentationSkills #BusinessStorytelling #PublicSpeaking