_{Day 112/100}

Hey—It's Tim.

Today’s an odd one.
I have 30 minutes to write a newsletter.

And I have nothing.

Because I f*cked my system and it gave me one I’ve already done.
But I said I’ll write, and so I’m gonna write.

So what do I do when I have no idea what to write?

I write about not knowing what to write.

And from that - I’ve now got a new framework I’m saving for future me (and sharing with you):

The “Oh Shit, I Need a Topic” Framework

A 3-step fallback plan for when you’re stuck, lost, or just didn’t sleep well

Step 1: Lower the bar. Way lower.

Don’t write the best thing.
Write the most honest thing.

What are you doing right now?
What’s the real state of play behind the scenes?
The inbox chaos. The broken system. The post that flopped.

Start with that.

If it’s happening to you, it’s probably happening to your readers too.
Use it.

Step 2: Zoom out 5 degrees

If your brain’s blank, don’t look for the big idea.
Look for the meta one.

You're not just writing…
You're figuring out how to write when you have no topic.
That is the topic.

This trick works for anything:

• No sales? Write “how I’m getting my first sale again”

• Burnt out? Write “how I know I’m burning out (and what I do next)”

• Bored of content? Write “the 3 ways I’m making content fun again”

Your problem is your post.

Step 3: Give it away

You just turned chaos into clarity.
Now make it useful.

Give it a name.
Break it into steps.
Turn your mess into a method your readers can steal.

Like this one.

So that’s today.
Not the most polished. Not the most planned.
But it's real.
And it's useful.
And if it keeps me putting another log on the fire that’s enough.

Now back to figuring out the next 100.

✌️ Tim "Is a Mess with a Name still a mess?" Hanson
CMO @Penfriend.ai

Same brain, different platforms: X, Threads, LinkedIn.

P.S. Missed yesterday’s email?

I’m trying to make the best content editor in the world.
And I need to know what you use right now.

Google Docs? Notion? Sticky notes and regret?

Check the email → reply with your setup → feel smug for shaping the future.
It’s here. Go on.

Penfriend.ai
Made by content marketers. Used by better ones.