Dumbify

People don't churn because content is too simple. They churn because following it is too much work. Every bit of mental effort — a fancy word, a nested sentence, undefined jargon — is a reason to swipe away. This skill cuts that effort.

Target: ~8th-grade reading level for the body, ~6th for hooks. Easy to follow = low strain = high retention.

Simple language, not simple ideas

You are lowering the reading level, not dumbing down the thinking. The idea can be sophisticated; the words shouldn't be. Simple ≠ simplistic. A sharp 13-year-old should be able to follow it — that doesn't mean the insight is for 13-year-olds.

Where it earns its keep

• High value: explainers, educational/teaching content, how-to, anything on a technical, financial, or abstract topic. This is where dense writing kills retention.
• Low value: already-conversational captions, short hooks, casual personal stories — these come out simple naturally. Don't force this skill where there's nothing to simplify.

The moves