Cheat Sheets

Download the new doc below. Recently updated with a revamped design and 50% more manifestos than the previous version.

Sometimes all you need is just the right question to kick your idea back on track. This is less a guide and more just a litany of questions if you get stuck.

A one-sheet master list of manifestos broken down by use case. Read, study, and watch all of them in the collection. Do you have any go-to references I’ve missed? Please send me an email.

Always have a handy guide to the different genres of manifestos. When you’re sharing your purpose, advice, or inspiration, you’ll always have the secret close at hand.

Keep your hands sharp with this short list of writing techniques. You won’t use every one every time, but I’ve found it valuable to have all of them at the ready just in case.

Writers often say their biggest frustration is when clients want their product mentioned in the manifesto. There are bad ways to do this and good ways. Here are 6 good ways.

Need an exit strategy? This guide gives you a snapshot of all the different ways to make a clean exit. (When in doubt, just tell people what you want them to do.)

Amazingly, this is the worst place to start. Far better to step back and pick a genre and structure first. But if you’ve got those in place, this guide can help you nail the first line.

Perfect for making one point really well. Use this structure when you have a strong point of view and a lot of examples to back it up.

The most common manifesto for establishing new ideas and big brand campaigns. Not great for setting a mood or celebrating something.

My go-to structure for creating emotion. Great for pulling folks the depth of your problem, then lifting them up higher on the other side.

A rare shape, but surprisingly effective at creating a mood. Can be used for new ideas, but requires a lot of craft to get right.

Ideal for celebrating or creating a tribute to something. Make sure to focus on breadth. Go wide and far. Don’t tell a story.