I gave the Amazon 6-pager format a spin. Right now the 3 main takeaways are:
1) The 6 page limit is a great forcing function; it makes every sentence count.
2) You need to add a disclaimer to the top to say that only the first 6 pages are mandatory.
3) Appendixes are awesome.
Conversation
Replying to
Re, 3), the most interesting thing about appendixes in the 6-pager format is that the 6-pager must be printable. This means that if you're quoting from data, or from a source, you need to extract the relevant bits and quote them in full.
1
2
The two side effects from this:
i) The entire doc becomes self-contained.
ii) Readers are able to dive deep into whatever bits of your argument they are interested in, but no more.
1
2
The best resource I've found for giving it a go is 's writingcooperative.com/the-anatomy-of
Alongside the Working Backwards book, of course.
1
4
My summary of the Working Backwards book is here, natch:
1
Replying to
What format/medium was your 6-pager replacing? I get the sense you do a lot of writing regardless 😁
1
Replying to
It would have replaced a normal, freeform memo. I think this format was good because it really forced me to think.