Stanford Writing Masterclass: How to Write Emails People Actually Answer with Glenn Kramon

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When was the last time you wrote an email that actually stood out? Glenn Kramon spent 37 years as an editor at The New York Times and now teaches Winning Writing, one of Stanford GSB’s most popular and competitive courses. In this episode, we talk with Glenn about the top writing strategies that can make your emails, pitches, and professional communication “one in a million” instead of “one of a million.”
Tune in for lessons on:
✅ Why you should never begin an email with “Hope you are well”
✅ The two big qualities that make your writing stand out
✅ How to write a cold email people actually respond to
✅ Glenn’s 12 essential rules for writing better emails (and cold emails)
✅ What to write when someone ignores your outreach
✅ The power of a thoughtful gratitude note
Whether you’re applying for a job, pitching an idea, reaching out to someone you admire, or just trying to communicate more effectively at work, this is your masterclass on winning writing.
Timestamps:
00:00: Cold Open
03:55: How to be one in a million not one of a million
05:10: Why you should never say “hope you are well” at top of an email
07:09: Personalizing the beginning of an email
09:10: Why Glenn’s class is so popular
11:40: How to avoid AI “slop”
14:30: What makes a great email from a mediocre one
14:57: How warmth and competence goes a long way
18:20: How to be targeted in your strategy for cold emails
22:22: Golden Rules for writing emails
25:02: Unpacking the “sh*t sandwich” approach
28:37: Start with what your audience doesn’t know, not what it does know
32:40: Golden Rules for writing cold emails
33:18: It’s not about you, it’s about them
36:15: How to create a connection with the recipient of your email
43:10: How to be persistent with your follow-ups
48:00: How to write a great gratitude letter
53:08: Closing thoughts
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