How Did a Finnish Guy Learn to Write English?

I started my journey as a writer last April, completely clueless and with a genuine distaste for writing.

Heck, just a few months before, I was totally invested in YouTube, creating soccer edit videos.

I loved editing, research, and making YouTube videos.

Yet, I quickly found out that to make money from shorts, you have to get a ton, actually millions, of views. (I got 3.7M)

Still, nothing goes to waste.

I attribute my knowledge of the YouTube algorithm and cross-platform success to the obsessive hours spent making shorts and studying the YouTube algorithm.

But then, one warm spring evening at the end of March, I was listening to a podcast with Dan Koe and Dickie Bush.

The gist was simple:

• Start writing online, specifically on platforms like 𝕏/Linkedln .

• Build in public

• Start a newsletter

It sounded easy and simple.

I’m Finnish, and my main language is Finnish. Writing in my native tongue was never interesting to me.

Then, some guys on the internet suggested I start writing in English. I bought into the idea.

How do you become a decent writer, and fast?

I noticed myself pondering these questions…

I can’t write like the people who have an English education.

So, what did I do?

I recognized that 𝕏 is a short-form platform. I didn’t need to write a novel.

Only short, concise texts were required. Even single words would do.

One of my best-performing tweets was simply:

"Could not have said it better."

My whole content strategy was based on this post.

And it worked.

Also, reading a few books made a significant difference:

• "How to Write Short" by Roy Peter Clark

• "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser

• "On Writing" by Ernest Hemingway

The summary of all the books was the same:

• Write short and simple sentences.

• Write clearly and cut all the unnecessary words.

• Write for one person.

• Show, not tell.

• Pack a punch.

• Entertain.

• Introduce a twist or surprise.

Even I could do this. And I did.

Focusing on these ideas helped with my writing.

After amassing 4,600+ followers in 𝕏 and making over 23,000 posts, I can safely say that it worked.

In other news…

It's nice to be back with the newsletter. The podcast is taking a lot of my time, and finishing my email course also demands attention. I get stuck easily on details, a trait I'm trying to move away from.

P.S.

Here is a link to my Email Course bonus section for all you cross-platform adventurers:

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