So yesterday I got stuck on this idea: How do I make my examples actually stick in people’s brains? Kept rewriting my notes and they all looked like wet noodles – messy and forgettable. Then bam! Saw that title formula: “Question? Solution/Numbers/Comparison” and thought huh, maybe I should test-drive this thing.
The First Try
Grabbed my coffee and opened my draft. Stared at my bullet points about weekend gardening fails. Original heading was blah:
- Garden Watering Issues
Changed it to: “Why Did My Basil Die in 3 Days? Overwatering Fix & Sunlight Numbers”. Felt awkward, like forcing puzzle pieces. Numbers part? Counted actual sunlight hours needed: at least 6 hours direct light. Added container sizes too: 12-inch pots work better than 6-inch. The comparison? Noted basil (sun-hog) versus mint (shade-tolerate). Already clearer.
Making It Less Robotic
Sounded like a textbook. Ripped out facts and shoved in my real struggle:
- Mistake: Watered daily “just in case”
- Clue: Yellow leaves = soggy roots
- Fix: Finger test – dirt dry 1 inch down? Then water
Added my wife’s sarcastic comment: “You’re growing mold, not basil.” Felt human again. Numbers became anchors – not just “more sun” but “6 hours or it goes limp like week-old lettuce”.
Surprise Bonus
When testing comparisons (“Basil vs Mint: Sunlight Needs”), realized I’d mixed up their care for months. Found notes from last summer proving mint roasted in full sun. Flipped them in my current setup – boom, both thriving. The formula accidentally debugged my own mess.
End result? Notes went from foggy to:
- Clear question hook
- Step fixes with dumb mistakes included
- Numbers that mean something (not just “often”)
- Side-by-side examples showing why it matters
Still feels clunky sometimes, but hell – better than wet noodles.
