Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Alex Poulin's avatar

Love the article and had difficulty grappling with your relevations given most are told to write for the algorithms (myself included). What are your thoughts on wanting to write a blockbuster with only a person or two in mind knowing that it could help them (then extrapolating it could impact others)?

And what are your thoughts on writing a blockbuster to help you think through a large problem or burning desire you want to learn or clarify for you only?

Expand full comment
ECP Page's avatar

Hi Michael,

I’m fascinated by your blockbuster model.

It flies in the face of common online advice promoting disposable, low substance--high quantity digital publishing.

Given the even odds of having an article go viral, I question the economy of such a steep investment in “chance”.

Odds are no better than flipping a coin, according to the research.

So there’s something else driving this obsession with quality.

It may have more to do with being an artisan than a merchant of ideas.

You’ve mastered both.

That’s the path I chose.

Thanks for the great model you teach, Michael.

So what are my odds of accomplishing this level of success?

I’ve got more history than future, no time to spare, and trying to catch a train that may have already left the station...a fools errand or a 1% chance of getting there?

Give me your best bet on my chance for writing a blockbuster! Cheers, Elizabeth

Expand full comment
9 more comments...

No posts