The following stuff helps me show up and make the writing process rather easy for me.
And I'm telling you this because:
- the only way to grow online is by being ocnsistent
- the surefire way to become a better writer is by writing often
The foundation of everything is consistency.
Steal my techniques and fit 'em into your schedule.
I write about my experience
Whether it’s fitness, personal development, side hustling, or solopreneurship — I write about stuff that I’ve experienced and learnt from.
I’m a guinea pig in my experiments.
This is also the reason why I write so much about travelling. Apart from the fact that it tends to go viral across platforms, it's fun to write about my experiences.
It’s also much easier to write when you’re describing your experience.
“Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. It is this genuine caring, not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.” — Stephen King
I outline my articles
Unless it's that rare story that strikes me and demands to be typed at that very moment, I always have my articles outlined in a notebook.
In fact, I’m travelling right now and got this article idea. So the headings of all these points I’m writing about are written on the notepad next to me.
It’s difficult to write when you see a blank page.
This makes the process less overwhelming.
I don’t interrupt my first draft
My student recently admitted that she’s having a hard time writing because she starts correcting her grammar and has a tendency to edit on the go.
I advised her to finish her first draft and not think of editing.
If you see my article how I see it while typing right now, it’s full of errors.
And that’s okay, I can fix it in the end.
I hyperlink all my research, add quotes, and edit in the end.
There’s also a feeling of accomplishment after the first draft.
I talk when I edit
I’ve been doing this ever since I used to write a fitness blog at 18.
My second and last round of editing is talking out my articles. Trust me, it surprises me every single time with the amount of errors that come out which even the grammar software doesn’t pick up.
It also makes my tone more easy, because I make it sound how I talk.
So.. friendly, I hope?
I try to sound simple
My husband teases me that I’m a writer whereas his vocabulary is far superior to mine. And I tell him, gone are the days when using big words would’ve made me sound better.
The writing that works today is the kind that’s simple to read, with:
- enough white spaces
- short sentences
- simple words
We’re too spoilt with content today and have such little time.
People want to read what they can easily digest.
I write from my heart
“Don’t give in to your fears. If you do, you won’t be able to talk to your heart.” ― Paulo Coelho
Cliche, but I rarely write about things just to show up or hit publish.
I write what I truly feel like writing.
It comes from inside.
Maybe it's self-awareness, maybe it's a calling. But it's easier to write when it comes from inside because your inner universe is a powerhouse of ideas — you just need to tap into it.
I don’t overthink my writing
Every article can be better, but everything can always be better.
I’m not a perfectionist.
Maybe it’s because my second boss was a perfectionist and her words never made sense to me. She wanted me to focus on making it look good and you know what? That task wasn’t completed until we had another boss chime in who was focused on getting things done.
Similarly, I write. I don’t overthink it.
It's a craft I enjoy, and I make time for it.
Simple.
I’m not too attached to my content
I don’t care how my work performs.
Earlier, I’d feel so bad about fewer views on my work because I spent so much time on it. My heart and hard work — everything into that piece.
With time, I experienced virality and traction on the most random stuff.
That’s when I realised that the internet is unpredictable. There’s nothing you can do to make something perform well. Nothing.
The only thing in your control is showing up and improving.
The outcome isn’t.
I give a take-home point
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”— Benjamin Franklin
All my content has something in it for the reader. Even when I talk about my experience, it’s because I’ve learnt something new and experimented with it on myself.
It’s not all about me.
And it always aims to improve the reader’s life.
I do this because my purpose is to help people live better lives. That happens in various ways — when people message me about getting gigs and quitting their jobs because their own dance is paying them more or even when they say they’ve become more mindful.
I write what I write so you, reading this, can improve by a tiny bit.
I hope this helps you in your writing journey.
Lastly
“Focus more on your desire than on your doubt, and the dream will take care of itself.” — Mark Twain
My last piece of advice always remains the same — don’t forget to have fun. Writing is such an enjoyable creative process and complicating it might make you fall out of love with it.
All the best!
Love,
N