Part 3: How to Write and Publish Your First Book in 30 Days - The 6 U’s, Clarity Tools, and Breaking Through Writer’s Block
The James Altucher Show
James Altucher
4.6 • 2.7K Ratings
🗓️ 22 May 2025
⏱️ 52 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Notes from James:
This is where a lot of people quit—but you won’t. This episode is about pushing through the dip that comes when writing gets tough. I give you tools I’ve used across 25+ books to keep going, stay motivated, and write better.
Episode Descriptions:
This is Part 3 of my 30-day writing series—and we’re getting into the real tools that will make your writing not just better, but publishable. If you’ve ever stared at a blank page and felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of where to go next, this is the episode that will break that wall down.
I walk you through the “6 U’s” that every chapter—and especially your book introduction—must follow to grab readers, hook them emotionally, and sell the value of your book. You’ll also learn the “Warren Buffett 5/25 Rule” and how it helps you figure out exactly what to write about, plus a little-known editing tool (the Flesch-Kincaid score) that will instantly improve your writing’s clarity.
If you’ve hit writer’s block, feel stuck mid-draft, or need structure to keep going, you’ll find every tool you need right here.
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/JAMES and get on your way to being your best self.
What You’ll Learn:
- The 6 U’s of persuasive writing: Urgency, Unique, Useful, Ultra-Specific, User-Friendly, Unquestionable Proof
- How to sell your book in the introduction using sales psychology techniques
- Why Warren Buffett’s 5/25 Rule might be the most important tool for picking a topic
- How to use the Flesch-Kincaid Score to make your writing clearer and more readable
- Nine real techniques I’ve used to overcome writer’s block—even on my worst days
- Why storytelling isn’t just a craft—it’s your most important writing tool
Timestamps:
00:00 Crafting a Compelling Book Introduction
01:58 The Six U's of Selling Your Book
07:52 Applying the Six U's to Your Writing
09:34 The Warren Buffett 5/25 Rule for Focus
22:01 The Importance of Readability: Flesch-Kincaid Score
28:27 Introduction to Overcoming Writer's Block
28:54 Nine Techniques to Overcome Writer's Block
36:33 Additional Writing Techniques and Tips
47:57 The Importance of Storytelling in Writing
51:07 Frameworks for Writing and Publishing Your Book
P.S. Want to go deeper? Check out my full course on Udemy or visit chooseyourselfacademy.com: How to Write and Publish a Book in 30 Days – available now.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | So we've actually already talked quite a bit about writing an introduction to your book. |
| 0:06.7 | And, you know, we've talked about storytelling. |
| 0:10.0 | Even the introduction, very important to tell your story. |
| 0:14.3 | Why are you writing this book? |
| 0:15.8 | Again, it's the who are you? |
| 0:17.4 | Why are you? |
| 0:18.3 | Why now? |
| 0:19.3 | So, like, as an example, if you're writing a book about |
| 0:22.7 | negotiation, tell us the worst moment in your life where you've had the worst negotiation, |
| 0:30.1 | where it was just so bad, you're embarrassed if you were even crying about it. And we'll build from |
| 0:36.3 | there. And we've also talked about how to construct a great first line that has the sense of mystery in it. |
| 0:43.1 | It'll compel people to read the second line and the third line and the next paragraph and then the book. |
| 0:59.4 | This isn't your average business podcast, and he's not your average host. |
| 1:01.9 | This is the James Altucher Show. |
| 1:13.6 | Here's a critical thing about introductions that's different from the rest of the book. |
| 1:19.5 | And it's often why I recommend writing the introduction last after you read the book. |
| 1:26.7 | But the key thing about introductions is that an intro is almost selling the rest of your book. |
| 1:28.4 | A reader's going to read the intro, |
| 1:31.8 | and you're going to sell them on the concept that not only do you need to read this book |
| 1:34.1 | because this topic is really important, |
| 1:36.1 | but you need to read this book |
| 1:37.7 | because it's written by me, |
... |
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