Clear writing, clear thinking, startup success.

Entrepreneurs compete on an increasingly crowded, global level. It’s not enough to have a great idea, product, or business model β€”Β you need to tell your story. Get concrete, step by step instructions on how to improve your writing, communication, and leadership. This special Holloway edition provides a comprehensive toolkit, including an on-demand writing course.

  • The entire online book
  • Strategic Writing Course ($89 value)
  • Additional Digital Training ebook
  • 20+ templates and supplemental material
  • Lifetime digital access
  • Advanced search, bookmarking, future updates, and more through the Holloway Reader
I never considered myself a writer, but Ben helped me turn my two decades of startup experience into a book I'm incredibly proud of. I'm a better founder because of it.Andrew Warner(entrepreneur and host of the hit startup podcast, Mixergy)

Great Founders Write

Principles for Clear Thinking, Confident Writing, and Startup Success

by Ben Putano

Accelerate Your Business, Career and Personal Growth

Why do we get stuck in our own heads? Why do we struggle to share our vision and ideas? Why does growth seem to come so easily to some, but not to us? ‍ What is holding us back from building the business, career, and life of our dreams? ‍ The secret to entrepreneurial success has not changed in millennia.

But today, it’s more important than ever: ‍ Great founders write.

Writing is the ultimate accelerator for clear thinking, communication, leadership, and personal growth.

It’s the tool used by world-changing founders from Benjamin Franklin to Oprah Winfrey to Jeff Bezos and countless more.‍

β€œClear thinking is clear writing. One cannot exist without the other.” –William Zinsser

In today’s knowledge-driven economy, ideas are your most valuable currency. The new rich are those who can communicate clearly and build a loyal following. That’s why writing is the most important skill and habit for founders to develop. ‍ Are you ready to unlock your full potential, grow your influence, and lead your business to new heights?

It’s time to join the ranks of great founders. It’s time to write.‍

Great Founders Write will teach you how to:

  • Write clearly for teammates, customers & investors
  • Communicate your vision and ideas with confidence
  • Build an online audience by telling stories that stick
  • Accelerate your personal growth and learning

You’ll also get:

  • A library of writing exercises, guides, and frameworks you can use to become a better writer TODAY.
  • Access to an an 8-part video course on copywriting, storytelling, and more.

Table of Contents

Part I
Write with Purpose
Begin with the End in Mind
Say the Most Important Thing First
Sell With Storytelling
Train Your Team For Success
Part II
Write with Empathy
Kill Your Ego, Replace With Empathy
Know Thy Reader
Find The Win-Win Opportunity
Nurture Key Relationships
Part III
Write with Clarity
Make Every Word Count
Simplify
Never Skip Editing
Design for Easy Reading
Part IV
Write with Courage
Lead from The Front
Build Your Audience
Practice, Practice, Practice
Postscript: The Work Has Just Begun
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Get lifetime access now.

The full book, interactive and searchable. Plus all future updates.
Now Available
Instant lifetime access
$49
  • 140-page online book
  • Strategic Writing Course ($89 value)
  • Additional Digital Training ebook
  • 20+ templates and supplemental material
  • Lifetime digital access
  • Advanced search, bookmarking, future updates, and more through the Holloway Reader

A Timeless Skill That’s More Relevant Than Ever

Great founders write because… ‍

  • Writing is your primary means of communication. With remote teams, international partners, and a global customer base, we’re spending less time in the same room with the people we work with. Written communication skills have never been more valuable.

  • Your competition is fierce and well-spoken. Traditional barriers to entry are gone. You aren’t just competing for wallet share, but also mind share. Ideas are just as important as products and services.

  • Adaptability is the #1 trait of successful founders. The world is changing faster than ever. Writing is the ultimate personal development tool to improve your strategy, learn new skills, and become your best self.

  • Writing is the master key that unlocks everything else. Great founders write to learn from the past, lead in the present, and create the future.

Great Founders Write will give you the principles and practical exercises for better writing in your career and life.

About the Author
Ben Putano
Damn Gravity Media
Ben Putano is a writer, entrepreneur, and book publisher. He’s the founder of Damn Gravity Media, a publishing house that inspires and educates tomorrow’s great founders. Ben lives in Chicago with his wife, Mary, and is an avid ultimate frisbee player.

What People Are Saying About the Book and Writing Course

Sara Loretta
I got more out of Great Founders Write than I did from a $17k coaching program.
Molly at Goblinapp.com
Are you a founder? You need to sign up for this writing cohort today. Blogging has literally built my business, brought in clients and people, and you’ll learn a lot about yourself too. (My tweet was generated as I loved Ben’s cohort and posted it 8x in a week!)
Amazingstoryaboutcreators’vulnerabilities.LastyearIboughtBen’sbookandfromwhatIcansay-it’smaybethebestbookaboutwritingthatIhaveread.Nofluff,justhitthemark.✨
Espree Devora
Ben and Grant offer kind care. This is a significant cohort based on elementary steps for writing. Learning how to write with heart goes a long way.
LovingtheideasinGreatFoundersWriteby@BenjaminPutano.Assomeonewithbigdreamswhostruggleswithwriting,thisbookhaslotsofactionableideas.Itisagreatreference.Ihighlyrecommendit.I’maCTOandfounderwhohasstruggledwithwriting.IjoinedGFWbecauseIwantedtoworkonexpressingmyideasbetter.Now,I’vehadtostopandreflectontheworkI’mdoing,butwouldlovetogotothenextcohortandcontinuetosharethepathforward.
Andrew Warner
I just bought Great Founders Write. Ben published my book, and when he did, he said I need to be more vulnerable, but I kept pushing back. Now I see how important it is to connect with readers emotionally.
Christina Bowen
I'm taking a #greatfounderswrite course from GFW right now and finding a lot of clear, actionable things I can do! I’m not a nerdy or abstract or structural thinker but it's really helpful to map out my personality to a person who writes coherently for other humans. Recommended!
Tobias GΓΌnther
If you want to improve your writing as a founder (which you should!), following @BenjaminPutano is a great start.
I’malreadyenjoyingthejust-publishedGreatFoundersWriteby@BenjaminPutano.RarelydoIreadabookthatIcanimplementondayone.Valuabletenantsonwritingthatanyonecanuse.
Paul Doerwald
I’m Paul Doerwald, CEO and Founder of Clockk, a β€œtimesheets done for you” tool. I joined GFW because I am a Founder, and I wanted to build a discipline of writing. I just started using Twitter and within days, Ben’s brilliantly focused marketing reached me. I wanted to learn writing + distribution from someone who was obviously a master. My biggest takeaway is the wonderful community that Ben curates. Meeting other people in the cohort, reading their work and having them read mine, has been an absolute pleasure. I am sad that with the cohort done I won’t have the same reason to keep in touch with these people. This cohort is perfect for founders who need a push out of their comfort zone to start writing. There is no room for excuses. Even if you don't know what to say, say it anyway. And then magic happens.
@WendyThePoohMN@dickiebush@ship30for30AndthenIwouldrecommend@BenjaminPutano’sβ€œGreatFoundersWrite”cohortifyouwanttogotothenextlevel!
@5harathHighlyrecommend@BenjaminPutano&@grant_nissily’sGreatFoundersWritecohort.Greatpride,greatcommunity,tonsoflearningandresources.
I’mpsychedfor#GreatFoundersWritebecauseI’llbe:Connectingwithwriter/founders,Expandingonmythreadsfrom#ship30for30,Publishingchaptersofmyguidetopivoting
Todaywasincredible.Igottospendanhourwith@BanjaminPutanoandseveralamazingpeoplleincluding@goblin_tech_intheGreatFoundersWritecohort.Igotmymoney’sworthinthesessiontodayalone!
Devin Faddoul
After I started my financial planning firm, I joined GFW thinking I would just learn how to hone my writing skills. But it was so much more than that. Ben is not only a great teacher, but he’s built and incredible community of founders, people that I hope to be able to call friends for life.
Suzanne H
The Great Founders Write cohort was a great experience. The structure and community provided me with the support (and accountability) to consistently publish content that will help grow my business.
Gladtobepartofit!Greatinitiative@BenjaminPutano:Highlyrecommendedforfounderswhowanttofindtheirvoiceandhaveconfidenceinaprocesstoexecuteit.
Whenyouaren'tgoodatsomething,findsomethingthatwillhelpmakeyoubetter.Learningsomegoodtoolsin@BenjaminPutano#GreatFoundersWritecourse.InhonorofJuneteenthmyfirstwritingiscenteredaroundmylifeasablackman.Thoughts?draymond.substack.com/p/the-power-of-being-black
Meenu Susanna
I highly recommend the course to others who want to get better at writing. The tools and models are insightful. The best part has been Ben’s infectious high energy and positivity and kindness. Ben and Grant exude warmth, support and are so earnest, effective and focused in their intention to help you achieve your goals. I am the co-founder of an 'anti-advertising' consultancy that believes in the power of meaningful startups to change the world. I joined GFW because I want to write about our proven approach to building resilient businesses to reach more founders and liberate more powerful ideas that can change the world. My biggest takeaway from the cohort: You have to be clear about who you’re writing for, and then just sit down, write and publish frequently with the audience in mind. You can’t get better at writing unless you keep writing. It doesn’t matter how good or bad it is. Once you start, the fear and inertia melt away. You gain more confidence, you get better with feedback and you can achieve so much. The journey is its own reward - it impacts you deeply beyond just your ability to write. It’s been super fun too!
Andrea Sz.
I am Andrea and I am a SaaS start-up co-founder. I joined the cohort as I am quite new in my start-up journey and I wanted to push myself to get better at writing. (The last time I wrote was for my uni thesis many years ago) The course with the essay homework made me realise that I am much better than I thought and I even enjoyed writing. The course and the group is great for accountability and you also give & receive feedback from the other students. This experience gave me confidence to start seriously writing for my start-up in the future. Teachers are awesome too :)
Kjell Vandevyvere
As a professional writer, I joined the Great Founders Write Cohort for the community and accountability. Having published four articles and met a handful of inspiring founders, my goal was accomplished. I'm looking forward to the next cohort and would love to see you there.
DJ Scruggs
As a professional writer, I joined the Great Founders Write Cohort for the community and accountability. Having published four articles and met a handful of inspiring founders, my goal was accomplished. I'm looking forward to the next cohort and would love to see you there.

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