PSA: I finally tried asking a single, clear question versus a long, rambling one.

For my last post here, I wrote a whole paragraph about my messy garage and what to do with old tools. Yesterday, I just asked 'What's the best way to store a dozen hand saws?' Got three solid, specific answers in an hour. What's your go-to method for asking a good question?

2 comments

2 Comments

jade32mo ago

Isn't it funny how we overthink asking for help? I used to write a whole backstory before my actual question, like explaining why my garden soil was bad for five sentences before just asking how to fix clay dirt. People don't need the novel, they just need the clear ask. Your garage example is perfect, you cut straight to the point about the saws. My rule now is to write the question first, then delete everything before it.

stella3072mo ago

I read a blog post once that said a good question is like a good headline. It needs to make you want to answer it. The writer said to imagine you only have three seconds of someone's attention. My method is to write the whole messy thing out first, then I go back and cut every single word that isn't absolutely needed. I ask myself, what is the one thing I actually need to know? It feels weird to delete all that context, but it works.