6 things the best online writers do that don’t rely on brains:
Ask an inexperienced writer about the game of writing online, and many will describe it as an intellectual pursuit.
Years of writing have shown me that this is, for the most part, not the case.
Years of writing have shown me that this is, for the most part, not the case.
The best writers know that conventionally understood forms of intelligence are NOT required to write things people love.
Brains and personal expertise on a topic will, of course, contribute to some good pieces.
Brains and personal expertise on a topic will, of course, contribute to some good pieces.
The majority, however, of what makes an outstanding writer and a superb body of work goes far beyond IQ or intellectual intelligence.
Here’s what I mean:
Here’s what I mean:
1. They write into the writing mood.
Some of the best writing we see originates in an initially terrible first draft.
Great writers don’t try and write gold straight away.
Some of the best writing we see originates in an initially terrible first draft.
Great writers don’t try and write gold straight away.
They know the immense value of writing whatever comes to mind in the initial stage of writing anything.
It’s in this phase that the mind loosens.
Refreshing and intelligent insights come to the fore without fuss or strain.
It’s in this phase that the mind loosens.
Refreshing and intelligent insights come to the fore without fuss or strain.
You don’t need to be in the mood to write well. It rarely starts that way.
But you can write yourself into the spirit if you are first willing to write anything, free of judgement.
But you can write yourself into the spirit if you are first willing to write anything, free of judgement.
2. Write about shit that genuinely interests them.
It shouldn’t be a bigger problem than it is, but many writers resort to writing about things they don’t enjoy writing about.
They write what they think they ‘should’ be writing.
It shouldn’t be a bigger problem than it is, but many writers resort to writing about things they don’t enjoy writing about.
They write what they think they ‘should’ be writing.
They write for a dreary, narrow niche. I see this all the time.
Then they wonder why their work isn’t resonating with their readers.
Then they wonder why their work isn’t resonating with their readers.
You need to feel your words at a higher frequency for others to enjoy what you’ve shared.
This starts with focusing on topics that are on your mind to begin with.
Go there, then triple down on the topics that work for you.
This starts with focusing on topics that are on your mind to begin with.
Go there, then triple down on the topics that work for you.
3. Write for themselves first.
Writing with an audience in mind is critical. It will guide how you grab people’s attention and motivate others to take action.
But much of the audience-focused stuff is secondary to first writing for yourself.
Writing with an audience in mind is critical. It will guide how you grab people’s attention and motivate others to take action.
But much of the audience-focused stuff is secondary to first writing for yourself.
The most fun I have writing coincides with ideas that keep me interested as I write them.
Writing that solves my own problems.
Writing that solves my own problems.
If we do anything less than that, our writing is all about assumption, which keeps us in the dark, and makes for convoluted words.
Sharpen your communication by writing to keep you - first and foremost - interested.
Sharpen your communication by writing to keep you - first and foremost - interested.
4. Willing to share imperfect stuff.
One of the most significant blocks to starting a new piece, let alone finishing one, is being compelled to write something perfect.
Nothing you ever put out will ever be perfect.
One of the most significant blocks to starting a new piece, let alone finishing one, is being compelled to write something perfect.
Nothing you ever put out will ever be perfect.
You must be OK with the idea that what you share could be a little crappy.
The more you write and share, the less poor pieces - in general - we be.
The more you write and share, the less poor pieces - in general - we be.
Perhaps you’ll finally tweak an article you’re happy with next century. But we don’t have centuries.
We have days, hours and inches.
Move fast and be willing to share at ‘90% perfect.’
We have days, hours and inches.
Move fast and be willing to share at ‘90% perfect.’
5. Know that some of their best writing takes the least effort.
The counterintuitive thing about writing, the most seasoned writers understand, is that if you poured a lot of thinking, time and energy into a piece - this one will most likely fall flat.
Why would this be?
The counterintuitive thing about writing, the most seasoned writers understand, is that if you poured a lot of thinking, time and energy into a piece - this one will most likely fall flat.
Why would this be?
Well, the nature of writing is that it is a creative endeavour, and creativity thrives where there is an absence of trying too hard.
There are exceptions, but when something pours out of you without much effort, you can be pretty certain you’re on the right track.
There are exceptions, but when something pours out of you without much effort, you can be pretty certain you’re on the right track.
6. They put in the (daily) reps, even if they don’t want to write.
The best writers stayed in the game and produced works of brilliance, not because they were especially talented, ‘born to write,’ or had superhuman discipline.
The best writers stayed in the game and produced works of brilliance, not because they were especially talented, ‘born to write,’ or had superhuman discipline.
They knew to take themselves out of the equation and instead focus on the system they were building.
Systems are absent of human emotion or stories.
Systems are absent of human emotion or stories.
They reflect an action plan - and it’s one that gets done, no matter how one feels.
This is how you develop a creative muscle that cannot be rivalled.
🔆
This is how you develop a creative muscle that cannot be rivalled.
🔆
RECAP
6 things the best online writers do that don’t rely on brains:
1. Write into the mood
2. Write what they're interested in
3. Write for themselves first
4. Willing to share imperfect stuff
5. Know that good writing takes less effort
6. Put in daily reps.
6 things the best online writers do that don’t rely on brains:
1. Write into the mood
2. Write what they're interested in
3. Write for themselves first
4. Willing to share imperfect stuff
5. Know that good writing takes less effort
6. Put in daily reps.
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