Matt’s Mix Tape, Vol. 108

Sep 10, 2021

Hi, I’m Matt Tillotson, a guy who reads, writes, and works out. This is Matt’s Mix Tape, a weekly Mix of ideas for the creator and athlete in all of us.

This week’s Mix:

Two big lessons from Write of Passage (+ a bonus)
”The Fatburn Fix” has a different plan to improve health
”Artemis” doesn’t live up to Andy Weir’s high standard
POP writing: How to make your writing vibrant
This week’s Florida photo(s)

Two big lessons from Write of Passage

Wednesday I started my third tour as an Alumni Mentor in Write of Passage.

In helping others start to writing online, two lessons stand out:

1) Writing is a team sport. Talking through ideas and getting feedback is the greatest force multiplier to improve your writing.

2) Consistency wins. This week, I'll publish the 108th edition of my newsletter, Matt's Mix Tape. Never would have happened without Write of Passage.

If you're creating content, get input. And keep going. Success online requires playing a long game, with others.

(And a secret third lesson: teaching truly is the best way to learn.)

The Fatburn Fix has different plan for improved health

Dr. Cate Shannahan has a different take on the traditional eat-less-and-exercise-more plan that fails people over and over:

… the reality is their stories are all rooted in the same common soil: they’ve lost their ability to burn body fat for fuel.

Dr. Shannahan believes vegetable oil and sugar are to blame—not saturated fat. Her theory is that overconsumption of vegetable oils and sugar causes our bodies to run on sugar, and not stored fat. As a result, we get heavier, and suffer Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions.

She has a unique view, backed up with data. You can read my summary of “The Fatburn Fix” here.

Artemis doesn’t hit Weir’s high standard

Andy Weir has a pretty reliable book formula: use science to both complicate, and then resolve, problems for the protagonists in his books. Sprinkle in some humor for warmth, set the story in space, and voila. A best seller. Even a movie or two.

“The Martian” and “Project Hail Mary” are two of my favorite sci-fi reads ever.

But in “Artemis,” Weir’s tried-and-true formula misses the mark the bit.

You can read a full review and my favorite passages here.

POP Writing: how to make your writing vibrant

Want to improve your writing, right now, this instant?

Then read my friend Charlie Bleeker’s essay on POP writing—a foundational concept in Write of Passage:

This isn’t a game where you get multiple lives. Lose the reader and your essay is dead.
You’ve got to make your writing POP by being Personal, Observational, and Playful.
Share personal experiences to connect with the reader. Observe the world around you and search for parallels between two seemingly unrelated things. And make the reader smile with fun and playful writing.

This is the kind of essay you come back to over and over, because it always has something new to teach you. Charlie’s essay has loads of practical examples you can incorporate to make your writing, well, POP.

This week’s Florida photo

A two-for-one this week, no extra charge.

Thursday Night, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began their defense of the Super Bowl title at home against Dallas. At a nearby park, the NFL hosted an “NFL Kickoff” event, with various activities and a free concert from Ed Sheeran.

Ed cut through the humid evening with a high-energy show.

But Sheeran wasn’t the best part.

My ninth grader is still willing to hang out with me. That’s the best part. I don’t take these moments lightly.

Welcome to six new subscribers

Including Brandon and Pat.

And thank you for reading.

Please reach out and say hi, ask a question, whatever—anytime.