The why and how of TL;DR

byMToback

1.3K followers

5 months ago

You'll master the art of hooking readers instantly with 25-word summaries that combine core benefits, standout features, and irresistible curiosity gaps.

What is a TL;DR?

Many thanks to @Magistudios for answering my question in chat!

TL;DR means "Too Long, Didn't Read". It's a really short summary that you can place at the top of your post. Like this:

The second shortcut is to hold down Ctrl + "~" (on Windows) or Cmd + "~" (on Mac). This gives you a "real" full-screen preview where nothing but the image is shown. Press the same keys again to go back

OK So why have a TL;DR, key takeaways, AND an FAQ? Because they serve three different purposes and should go in three different places:

• TL;DR - This should hit the reader between the eyes. It's short, punchy and to the point.
• Key Takeaways - this is a short list of bullet points that summarizes the key points of the post. Should go right under the introduction. It "tells 'em would you'll tell 'em", but it's not a sneak preview. It summarizes
• FAQ: Frequently asked questions goes at the end. It says to the reader "Maybe I didn't answer all your questions"
  
  So how to create one? I feed the text of my post into chat or claude with this prompt:
  
  Act as a conversion-focused copywriter. Read the attached article titled "<Blog Title". In ≤25 words, write a punchy TL;DR: that (1) states the core benefit, (2) highlights one standout feature, and (3) sparks curiosity. Use energetic, second-person language. Return only the TL;DR line—no headings, no extra text.

Boom!

And there you have it!