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Jerry Seinfeld vs. James Altucher: A Case Study for Writers
How to write to get people talking
Declan Wilson
I woke up Monday morning to one of the strangest headlines of 2020, which is saying a lot. Jerry Seinfeld — yes, the Jerry Seinfeld — wrote a brutal response to author James Altucher’s claim that “New York is Dead Forever.”
Is America’s favorite city doomed? Who knows. Both men have good arguments. Only time can crown a winner. By the time it does, you will have forgotten all about this fight. What you shouldn’t forget, though, is this fact:
A writer most known for his work on the internet wrote a single blog post and got Jerry Freaking Seinfeld to issue a public response.
Seinfeld, the guy who wrote a show about nothing, the guy who’s perfectly content with his riches, the guy who observes the world from the driver’s seat of a fancy car and jokes with other comedians (while drinking coffee). That guy somehow felt so compelled to respond to “some putz on LinkedIn.”
And it got me thinking, how did Altucher do it?
How to Write to Get People to Respond
It’s one thing to get people to click on an article you wrote, it’s another thing to get people to keep reading it. And it’s an entirely different game when people are clamoring for a spot in the comment section.
I can’t guarantee a massive public figure will drag you through the mud if you follow these tips, but they’ll certainly get people talking about your work.
Draw a line in the sand
“The hot dog stands outside of Lincoln Center? Finished.” — James Altucher
You can lay out the facts and showcase all the possibilities, or you can draw a line in the sand, let people pick which side to stand on, and have them duke it out in the comments.
Neither Seinfeld nor Altucher said that NYC ‘might’ be dead.
How to write to get people talking
Declan Wilson
I woke up Monday morning to one of the strangest headlines of 2020, which is saying a lot. Jerry Seinfeld — yes, the Jerry Seinfeld — wrote a brutal response to author James Altucher’s claim that “New York is Dead Forever.”
Is America’s favorite city doomed? Who knows. Both men have good arguments. Only time can crown a winner. By the time it does, you will have forgotten all about this fight. What you shouldn’t forget, though, is this fact:
A writer most known for his work on the internet wrote a single blog post and got Jerry Freaking Seinfeld to issue a public response.
Seinfeld, the guy who wrote a show about nothing, the guy who’s perfectly content with his riches, the guy who observes the world from the driver’s seat of a fancy car and jokes with other comedians (while drinking coffee). That guy somehow felt so compelled to respond to “some putz on LinkedIn.”
And it got me thinking, how did Altucher do it?
How to Write to Get People to Respond
It’s one thing to get people to click on an article you wrote, it’s another thing to get people to keep reading it. And it’s an entirely different game when people are clamoring for a spot in the comment section.
I can’t guarantee a massive public figure will drag you through the mud if you follow these tips, but they’ll certainly get people talking about your work.
Draw a line in the sand
“The hot dog stands outside of Lincoln Center? Finished.” — James Altucher
You can lay out the facts and showcase all the possibilities, or you can draw a line in the sand, let people pick which side to stand on, and have them duke it out in the comments.
Neither Seinfeld nor Altucher said that NYC ‘might’ be dead.
Altucher said, “It’s dead.” Seinfeld screamed back, “NYC will never die!”
This or that.
This or that.
Black or white.
Toilet paper rolled over or rolled under.
Clearly define a boundary.
True, many things are multi-faceted and complex. But your writing doesn’t have to be…
True, many things are multi-faceted and complex. But your writing doesn’t have to be…
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