"Write to wake people up."

Howdy Modern Authors,

Vishen Lakhiani told me that's the secret to his bestselling books and why MindValley has become the most significant personal development community in the world. "You will either love or hate my books. That is my design because we grow through discomfort or insight. Never true apathy."

Design your writing to spark discomfort? Turns out that's how you wake people up.

Vishen's writing is what happens when you combine TED Talks, personal development, storytelling, neuroscience, and sacred geometry. 🔥 His books feel more like revolutions than lessons, and that’s why The Code of the Extraordinary Mind became a New York Times bestseller and the spark that caused MindValley to grow 500% after its release.

His writing works because it’s designed to challenge, disrupt, and transform. He combines deep personal storytelling, unconventional insights, research, and spiritual science into a bold new kind of thought leadership—one that dares the reader to question everything.

And the secret behind it? The Wake Up Writing Structure.

Yes, even radical thinkers like Vishen use structure. Once you see how his chapters work, you’ll have a repeatable format for creating your own transformational book, white paper, or personal growth manifesto.

Why The Wake Up Writing Framework Works

Vishen’s writing feels unlike anything else because it’s designed to:

✅ Challenge cultural assumptions (his idea of “Brules” = BS rules passed down by society)

✅ Blend personal and universal (his life story becomes a gateway into global insights)

✅ Trigger emotional resonance and reflection (readers don’t just learn—they rethink who they are)

✅ Offer spiritual yet scientific frameworks (he makes altered states, intuition, and consciousness both accessible and practical)

His writing doesn’t ask for agreement—it creates transformation. He opens loops, stirs discomfort, drops surprising research, and uses stories from Elon Musk, SpaceX, and meditation retreats in the same chapter.

When to Use Wake Up Writing?

This framework is ideal for:

Types of Writing:

• Personal development & self-help books
• Transformational coaching content
• Manifestos, thought leadership articles, and talks
• Holistic and spiritual nonfiction

Topics That Fit:

• Mindset, consciousness, and intuition
• Education, healing, wellness
• Career reinvention and purposeful work
• Spiritual entrepreneurship

Best for Authors Who:

• Want to disrupt conventional thinking
• Have strong personal stories to share
• Teach frameworks that blend intuition and evidence
• Care about consciousness, purpose, or transformation

If your writing aims to awaken people, this is your template.

How to Write Using Vishen's Wake Up Writing Style

You'll build chapters using Vishen's framework by introducing an unconventional take designed to shock or disrupt. His writing is so memorable that it attracts people who operate from a place of deep emotion.

Here's a step-by-step outline to apply the Wake Up Writing framework in the event you're writing a 3,500-4,500 book chapter, white paper, or long-form ar

1️⃣ Hook + Personal Story (500–700 words)

• Start with a provocative quote or statement.
• Drop the reader into a raw, personal story (career collapse, awkward moment, spiritual turning point).
• Build emotional tension.
• Lead to an inner revelation or insight that breaks the norm.

🧠 Why it works: It builds connection and sets up a “something’s not working” moment. The reader is pulled into your transformation before you teach.

2️⃣ Thematic Narrative + Cultural Challenge (600–900 words)

• Introduce a societal belief or norm (aka a “Brule”).
• Challenge it with logic, emotion, and real-world dissatisfaction.
• Ask big questions: Why do we work this way? Why do we accept this?
• Use language like “We’ve been taught to believe…” or “We’ve normalized…”

🧠 Why it works: Readers feel seen. They start to question assumptions and emotionally invest in your worldview.

3️⃣ Layer in Research + Metaphors (600–800 words)

• Use science, history, or cognitive psychology to validate your point.
• Bonus: Reference influential thinkers like Yuval Noah Harari, Gallup, or neuroscience studies.
• Use unique metaphors (e.g., Culturescape, Brules, altered states).

🧠 Why it works: Data meets metaphor. It bridges logic and intuition—perfect for holistic thinkers.

4️⃣ Spiritual or Experiential Story (500–700 words)

• Tell a story of altered states, meditation, intuitive experience, or spiritual breakthrough.
• Could include: conversation with a mentor (e.g., Neale Donald Walsch), a retreat, a dream, or flow state.
• Use sensual detail, inner dialogue, and emotional honesty.

🧠 Why it works: Helps readers trust the “woo” because it’s rooted in story and humanity. This is where you go deep.

5️⃣ Introduce a Framework or “Law” (400–600 words)

• Introduce your law, framework, or tool for transcendence.
• Label it clearly: “Law #1: Transcend the Culturescape.”
• Use breakout boxes or bold language for clarity.
• Tie it to the earlier stories and research.

🧠 Why it works: This gives shape to the idea. Readers can now identify what they’re learning and name it.

6️⃣ Case Study or External Story (400–600 words)

• Tell a third-person story (interview or biography) to illustrate your principle in the real world.
• Example: Elon Musk’s “high tolerance for pain” and quitting the Brules.
• Include quotes and dialogue.

🧠 Why it works: Reinforces your framework from a new perspective. Shows it’s not just you—it’s universal.

7️⃣ Expand and Reflect (500–800 words)

• Raise the stakes: Why does this matter?
• Share how this law has changed your life or others’.
• Introduce the emotional or spiritual takeaway.
• Include a reflection or warning: “Not everyone will like this path.”

🧠 Why it works: Drives home transformation. You’re not just teaching—you’re awakening.

8️⃣ Wrap-Up + Loop Forward (300–400 words)

• Summarize the big takeaway.
• Open a loop: preview what’s coming in the next chapter.
• Example: “But what happens when questioning Brules creates backlash? In the next chapter, we explore how to stay resilient while rewriting your reality.”

🧠 Why it works: Closure with curiosity. Teases the next breakthrough.

✍️ ChatGPT Writing Prompt: Wake Up Writing Style

“I’m writing a transformational chapter using Vishen Lakhiani’s Wake Up Writing structure. Please analyze or help develop the following chapter content:

• A personal story that introduces emotional tension or a life shift
• A cultural belief I want to challenge or rewrite
• Research, studies, or metaphors that validate my argument
• A spiritual or intuitive moment that reframed my thinking
• A new framework, law, or practice I’m introducing
• A case study or story of someone else applying it
• A reflection on what this teaches us—and how it transforms
• A short summary + teaser for the next chapter

Please help me: - Improve the emotional resonance - Make the framework clear and actionable - Ensure the voice blends logic, story, and soul

Here’s my content: [Insert Your Content]”

What's Coming Next?

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Vishen was kind enough to speak to our Modern Author community. If you'd like to hear more of his insights (his philosophy on selling more books will 'wake you up'), you can read, watch or listen here: https://erickoester.com/podcast/vishen-lakhiani/​

This week, my editor finished giving me feedback on the first four chapters of Pennymores #4. He wrote, "I love these characters -- you've made them come alive." I'll tell you what... there's nothing like getting that kind of feedback on your writing. Now I just have to finish the next 20 chapters! But that feedback will at least get me through the next few! ;)

Next week, we're going to dive into the writing of my fellow Georgetown Professor Cal Newport. He's becoming a friend and someone I really enjoy... I'm excited to break down his writing with you!

Have a great week, and enjoy some March Madness hoops (if you're into that)!

Eric