How I write newsletters while I walk
My voice-mode writing workflow
I used to spend almost 2 hours writing ONE newsletter each week.
Now it only takes me 30-40 mins - and I do most of the heavy lifting while I’m on a walk.
Here’s my “secret”:
Stop writing, start talking instead.
When it comes to writing emails, most people make the same mistake:
They sit at their desk
Stare at a blank screen
And try to force the words out
But this approach is slow, painful, and draining.
And the truth is…
You don’t need to write your newsletter at all (at least not the first draft).
Instead, you need to talk it out.
Think about it - when you’re explaining an idea to a friend, the words just flow naturally.
You don’t overthink every sentence or spend minutes looking for the right adjectives.
So with that in mind, I created a “voice-first” workflow that allows me to create engaging emails by talking (not typing) all while I take a stroll outdoors.
The 7-Step Voice-First Newsletter Framework
Every Sunday, I use this process to write at least 1 of the multiple emails I send every week (plus most of my LinkedIn content).
So, let me walk you through it:
Step 1: Write up an outline for the piece
This is usually just a brain dump in bullet form.
Sometimes it’s super detailed (if I’m clear on the direction of the piece). Other times it’s rough and I need help clarifying.
Either way works.
Step 2: Go for a long walk (ideally outside)
A treadmill also works.
But if you’re lucky enough to be in a place with nice weather, I highly recommend going outside.
This makes the process 10x more enjoyable.
Step 3: Open ChatGPT on voice mode
This is the prompt I usually start with:
“Hey ChatGPT, I need your help drafting a newsletter. I’m going to share my working outline with you. Then I want you to interview me so you can gather all the context you need to draft this piece in my voice & writing style. Important rule: You’re only allowed to ask me 1 question at a time.”
Another pro tip: The more specific you can be around the type of newsletter that you’re looking to write, the better.
For example, here are 2 constraints you could benefit from specifying from the start:
Length (how many words are you aiming for?)
Objective (what’s your ultimate goal with this email?)
Step 4: Have ChatGPT interview you
This usually takes 10-15 minutes.
Throughout this “interview,” ChatGPT generally asks me 5-10 clarifying questions (depending on how much clarity there already is in the outline).
The one-question-at-a-time rule is crucial, though - because it helps keep it conversational and easy to manage while you’re walking.
Step 5: Talk out the piece as you walk
I just answer ChatGPT’s questions naturally, like I’m explaining the idea to a friend without really overthinking anything.
Step 6: Make quick edits via voice (while still walking)
If there are any low-hanging edits or tweaks after the first drafts is dome, I just dictate those changes so ChatGPT can implement them for me.
This reduces the amount of editing I need to do at my desk later.
Step 7: Edit the piece (at your desk)
At this stage, the piece is very close to being done.
I just need to do some light editing & add the finishing touches to the piece:
Cut any sections that feel fluffy
Remove any phrases or wording that doesn’t sound like me
Add in sub-heads to make each “section” of the email stand out
Read the email aloud to catch anything that feels clunky or repetitive
Brainstorm subject line variations (I usually reference my Subject Line Crash Course for this)
This final step usually takes 5-10 minutes.
And just like that - you have a fully fleshed-out newsletter ready to get published.
Now, here’s a (final) pro tip to make this process even smoother:
Create a ChatGPT Project with your best newsletters and a copywriting style guide describing how you write.
Then do this exercise within that Project so ChatGPT has tons of context and examples on how you normally write and structure your emails.
This makes the output even better and ensures the draft actually sounds like you.
The good news is…
If you don’t have this setup yet, this week’s AI prompt will help you hit the ground running.
The Newsletter Copywriting Style Guide Generator
To make this Voice-First Newsletter Method work for you, you need to train ChatGPT on your specific writing style.
That’s where this prompt comes in.
This is the exact prompt I’ve used to create my own email copywriting style guide as well as my clients’.
Here’s how to use it:
Gather 5-10 of your best newsletters
Upload them to a ChatGPT Project
Use the prompt below to generate your style guide
Save that style guide in the same Project
Use this Project every time you write a newsletter using the Voice-First method
