The “Reframing” Technique
How to Turn Boring Topics Into Irresistible Content
10X Writer #36
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Oh no. Not again.
You’ve been asked to write about a topic that’s been covered hundreds of times.
It’s popular. It’s relevant.
But it’s also been done to death.
Everyone wants to share their take on the big ideas in their niche—
“How to be more productive.”
“5 ways to get more leads.”
“The secret to consistency.”
Your client wants you to give it a fresh perspective.
You want to take it up as a challenge.
So you decide to say it better.
Tighter sentences. Smarter examples. Sharper insights.
But here’s the truth:
No one notices better.
They notice different.
Because different makes people pause.
It surprises them.
It makes them curious.
And that’s what gives your content a fighting chance.
So how do you make it different?
How do you give a fresh perspective to something that’s been said hundreds of times?
That’s what reframing gives you.
A way to take the same old idea—
And make it feel brand new.
Let’s break it down.
What Reframing Really Means (And What It’s Not)
Reframing isn’t about sounding smart.
It’s not about rewriting headlines or adding a punchy twist.
It’s about showing people a familiar idea in a way they haven’t seen before.
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
Reframing means changing the lens so an old idea feels new again.
Let’s take an example.
Original idea: “How to wake up early and build a morning routine.”
You could reframe that into:
“What no one tells you about waking up at 5AM”
“The 5AM secret: How early mornings hold the key to success”
“Why your evening routine decides how early you wake up”
“The ancient secret to waking up early without alarms”
Same topic.
Fresh angles.
Each one changes how the reader looks at the idea.
Some challenge assumptions.
Some create curiosity.
Some feel a little unexpected.
That’s what makes them work.
But here’s where most writers go wrong:
They think reframing means rewriting.
So they change a few words.
Tweak the hook.
Clean up the sentences.
But the core idea stays the same.
It doesn’t feel any different.
Reframing goes a step further.
It helps people see the same thing in a new way.
And when that happens
You get their attention.
You don’t need a new idea.
You just need a better angle.
The 4 Reframing Levers
So how do you actually reframe an idea?
Here are four simple shifts that can turn a predictable topic into something fresh and clickable.
You can use one or mix a few.
The goal isn’t to be clever. It’s to make the reader see differently.
1. Flip the Assumption
Every topic comes with an invisible script, things people believe to be true.
Reframing it means flipping that default assumption on its head.
Original: “How to stay consistent on LinkedIn.”
Reframed: “Why posting every day might be hurting your LinkedIn growth.”
It stops the scroll because it feels a little wrong.
And that’s exactly why people want to read more.
2. Make the Invisible Visible
Sometimes the problem isn’t what people are saying—it’s what they’re ignoring.
This lever reveals what’s hiding in plain sight.
Original: “How to write better cold emails.”
Reframed: “The most overlooked reason your cold emails don’t get replies.”
You’re not creating new information.
You’re pointing to something quiet but important.
And that makes the content feel fresh.
3. Recast the Hero or the Villain
This is about shifting who (or what) gets the credit or the blame.
It works especially well when people have been solving the wrong problem.
Original: “Struggling to close more sales? Work on your pitch.”
Reframed: “Your pitch isn’t the problem. Your offer is.”
Now your reader starts questioning what they thought they needed to fix.
That’s a powerful hook.
4. Change the Stakes
Most content focuses on benefits, what you’ll get if you follow the advice.
But sometimes, reframing the cost of inaction is more powerful.
Original: “How to build a daily writing habit.”
Reframed: “Why inconsistent writing is quietly killing your opportunities.”
Now it’s not just helpful advice, it feels urgent.
And urgency drives action.
These levers aren’t formulas.
They’re questions you can ask when a topic feels flat:
What does everyone assume is true here?
What are people not talking about?
Who’s really responsible for the result?
What’s the real cost of ignoring this?
Use them to push beyond the obvious.
That’s how you make old ideas feel new.
Real-World Examples Breakdown
Reframing isn’t just a writing trick.
It’s everywhere once you start noticing it.
Let’s look at how some top creators and brands use it in the wild:
1. Sahil Bloom — The Anti-Hustle Reframe
Sahil doesn’t just post tips on productivity.
He reframes the why behind rest and slowness.
“Everyone’s optimizing for speed. I’m optimizing for direction.”
That one line flips the default script of hustle culture.
Same topic (productivity).
New frame (intention > intensity).
2. Amanda Natividad — Turning Assumptions on Their Head
Amanda doesn’t just teach content strategy.
She reframes the roles people play in the ecosystem.
“Don’t aim to be a thought leader. Be a thought sharer.”
This works because it challenges a common aspiration.
It lowers the barrier for creators, while making them feel smart for doing less.
3. B2B Example — From Features to Invisible Cost
Original SaaS messaging: “Track every lead in one dashboard.”
Reframed: “How many leads are you losing by not tracking them properly?”
This changes the stakes.
It moves the focus from what the tool does to what the reader might be missing.
And that activates fear of loss, one of the strongest motivators in copy.
4. Creator Tweet — Making the Familiar Feel Dangerous
“Your writing isn’t boring because you’re not a good writer.
It’s boring because you’re trying to sound like one.”
This is a classic “recast the villain” move.
It doesn’t blame lack of skill.
It blames the pressure to look skilled.
And that makes readers nod, reflect, and share.
The best content doesn’t just inform.
It reframes.
It helps people see what they didn’t see before—
Or question what they always assumed was true.
And that’s what makes it worth reading.
The 5-Minute Reframing Exercise
You don’t need to wait for inspiration to strike.
Reframing is a skill you can practice and get better at.
Here’s a simple exercise you can do with any topic you’re working on:
Step 1: Write down the default headline or angle
What’s the obvious way people usually talk about this topic?
Example: “Tips to stay consistent with content.”
Step 2: Ask what people assume is true
What’s the belief under the surface?
Assumption: “Consistency = daily posting.”
Assumption: “If you’re not consistent, you’re lazy or undisciplined.”
Step 3: Try one of the four reframing levers
Let’s say we use Flip the Assumption.
Now your new angle could be:
“Why daily content might be the reason your growth has stalled.”
or
“The secret to consistency? Stop trying to post every day.”
You can do this with any idea, any brief, any niche.
It takes five minutes, and it sharpens your thinking fast.
Over time, it becomes automatic.
You won’t just write better. You’ll think better.
And that’s what sets great writers apart.
Why Reframing Is a Power Move
Most writers try to stand out by adding more—
More value.
More detail.
More polish.
But the real edge doesn’t come from more.
It comes from different.
Reframing helps you take an overused idea—
And make it feel sharp, relevant, and new.
It’s how you stop sounding like everyone else,
Even when you’re talking about the same things.
So the next time you’re stuck with a tired brief or a too-common topic—
Don’t rewrite it.
Reframe it.
Because you don’t need a better idea.
You just need a better angle.