Templates · Thread
Listicle thread template
A list thread is easy to write and easy to read, which is why so many are forgettable. This template makes every item earn its place.
The template
- 1
[Number] [things] that [specific benefit] for [audience]: (#[N] is the one most people skip)
- 2
1. [Item] [Why it matters, or how to use it, in one or two sentences.]
- 3
2. [Item] [Why it matters.]
- 4
3. [Item] [Why it matters.]
- 5
4. [Item] [Why it matters.]
- 6
5. [Item] [Why it matters.]
- 7
If you only try one, make it #[N]: [why it beats the rest]. Which one would you add?
When to use it
- You have a handful of ideas, resources or examples around one theme.
- You want a format that's easy to skim and easy to save.
- You're short on time and need a thread that writes itself from notes.
Why it works
A specific promise
"5 habits that make remote meetings shorter" beats "5 productivity tips". The more specific the benefit, the more the right reader stops.
The teaser
Pointing at one item in the hook gives skimmers a reason to read the whole list.
Item plus why
A bare list is a tweet, not a thread. The reason under each item is where the value is.
The pick
Ranking one item at the end shows judgment and gives readers who won't try all five a place to start.
Examples
- Y
Your name@you1/7
5 habits that made our remote meetings half as long: (#4 is the one most teams skip)
- Y
Your name@you2/7
1. Agenda in the invite, or no meeting. If nobody can write three bullets for it, it's a message, not a meeting.
- Y
Your name@you3/7
2. Start with decisions needed. The first two minutes list what we must decide. Updates go last, or go async.
- Y
Your name@you4/7
3. 25 and 50 minutes, not 30 and 60. People arrive at the next call on time and with a coffee.
- Y
Your name@you5/7
4. One person writes notes, live, on screen. Everyone sees what's being recorded. Disagreements surface in the meeting, not a week later.
- Y
Your name@you6/7
5. End with owners and dates. Every action gets a name and a day. If it doesn't, it wasn't decided.
- Y
Your name@you7/7
If you only try one, make it #4: shared live notes fix more misunderstandings than any other change we made. Which one would you add?
- Y
Your name@you1/7
5 swaps that add 30g of protein to your day without protein shakes: (#3 is the one most people skip)
- Y
Your name@you2/7
1. Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt. Roughly double the protein for the same spoonful. Add fruit if plain is too sour.
- Y
Your name@you3/7
2. Lentil or chickpea pasta instead of wheat pasta. Same sauce, same dinner, noticeably more protein per bowl.
- Y
Your name@you4/7
3. Cottage cheese in your eggs. A couple of spoonfuls whisked in before cooking. Creamier eggs, and you won't taste it.
- Y
Your name@you5/7
4. Edamame instead of chips. A bowl with salt and chili is a snack that actually fills you up.
- Y
Your name@you6/7
5. A glass of milk with dinner. Old-fashioned, cheap, and easy to remember.
- Y
Your name@you7/7
If you only try one, make it #3: it fits into a breakfast you already eat. Which one would you add?
Tips
- Write ten items, then cut to the best five.
- Keep items parallel: all verbs, or all nouns. It reads cleaner.
- Make the teaser honest. If you promise #4 is the surprising one, it should be.
- Turn a long list of notes into a draft fast with the thread maker, then cut.
Go deeper: How to write a thread on X that people read to the end · 60 tweet ideas for when you're stuck
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