50 powerful lessons I've learned from 15 years writing online:
1. You’ll never feel “ready” to publish it.
2. Quality is completely subjective.
3. The only way to get become a better writer is to write.
4. Build a daily writing habit, even if you don’t publish.
5. Then build a daily publishing habit.
2. Quality is completely subjective.
3. The only way to get become a better writer is to write.
4. Build a daily writing habit, even if you don’t publish.
5. Then build a daily publishing habit.
6. Don’t talk yourself out of ideas. See what your audience says.
7. Consistency is everything.
8. If your network is your net worth, writing is a skill worth millions.
9. You don’t need to be an expert to share your perspective.
7. Consistency is everything.
8. If your network is your net worth, writing is a skill worth millions.
9. You don’t need to be an expert to share your perspective.
10. You’re a writer the moment you hit publish.
11. Early on, most of your writing won’t be good. That’s okay.
12. If you don’t look back and cringe at old work, take more risks.
13. Learn to write at all times of day and in all environments.
14. Writer’s block is an excuse.
11. Early on, most of your writing won’t be good. That’s okay.
12. If you don’t look back and cringe at old work, take more risks.
13. Learn to write at all times of day and in all environments.
14. Writer’s block is an excuse.
15. Identify why you write — it’ll help you through tough times.
16. There will be haters and trolls. That’s part of it.
17. The haters and trolls will move on tomorrow. Keep going.
18. You’ll miss on ideas and make mistakes. It's okay.
16. There will be haters and trolls. That’s part of it.
17. The haters and trolls will move on tomorrow. Keep going.
18. You’ll miss on ideas and make mistakes. It's okay.
19. You’ll publish content with errors. Don’t beat yourself up.
20. Separate ideation, writing and editing. Three different skills.
21. If you’re emotional, write immediately. But DO NOT publish.
22. Come back 24 hours later, edit it and then publish.
20. Separate ideation, writing and editing. Three different skills.
21. If you’re emotional, write immediately. But DO NOT publish.
22. Come back 24 hours later, edit it and then publish.
23. Keep all systems super simple.
24. Write to be understood, not to sound smart.
25. The internet is free distribution. Take advantage.
26. You can have a niche or not. It doesn’t matter.
24. Write to be understood, not to sound smart.
25. The internet is free distribution. Take advantage.
26. You can have a niche or not. It doesn’t matter.
27. You don’t need to be an open book, but show your humanity.
28. Pay attention to what your audience likes. Write more of that.
29. Pay attention to what you like. Write more of that, too.
28. Pay attention to what your audience likes. Write more of that.
29. Pay attention to what you like. Write more of that, too.
30. As your audience grows, turn around and help others starting out.
31. Nobody else gets to decide what ideas are worth publishing.
32. If you can write on tight deadlines, you're unstoppable.
33. Writing is bricklaying. Only one way the cottage gets built.
31. Nobody else gets to decide what ideas are worth publishing.
32. If you can write on tight deadlines, you're unstoppable.
33. Writing is bricklaying. Only one way the cottage gets built.
34. Try different styles, formats + voices. Find what fits.
35. There’s nothing cool about “starving artists.”
36. Spend zero time worrying about others' work.
37. Forget nearly everything high school English taught you.
35. There’s nothing cool about “starving artists.”
36. Spend zero time worrying about others' work.
37. Forget nearly everything high school English taught you.
38. Writing has a sound just like music does. Learn to hear it.
39. Establish a standard for your work and stay true to it.
40. If you don’t fall short of that standard sometimes, raise it.
41. Volume matters with content. Take more shots.
39. Establish a standard for your work and stay true to it.
40. If you don’t fall short of that standard sometimes, raise it.
41. Volume matters with content. Take more shots.
42. Building an audience is building a company. It takes years.
43. Review your top content often. Write new angles of those ideas.
44. When you see a pattern, double down.
45. Always leave room to experiment. Try new things.
43. Review your top content often. Write new angles of those ideas.
44. When you see a pattern, double down.
45. Always leave room to experiment. Try new things.
46. Only take advice from people also in the trenches.
47. Content you like will flop, and content you don’t will crush.
48. Build a community.
49. Make time to make friends online.
50. Ultimately, the audience decides.
47. Content you like will flop, and content you don’t will crush.
48. Build a community.
49. Make time to make friends online.
50. Ultimately, the audience decides.
These lessons come from my experience as a former journalist, digital writer/editor at ESPN and writing online nearly every day for 1.5 decades.
Take them for what they’re worth.
Which resonate the most with you?
What lessons have you learned that you'd add?
Take them for what they’re worth.
Which resonate the most with you?
What lessons have you learned that you'd add?
Follow me @TMitrosilis for more on writing + growth.
P.S. I write a newsletter called The Daily Creator. Simple tips to help you write well + build your audience, every weekday.
Join 1,700+ others (FREE): thedailycreator.news
P.S. I write a newsletter called The Daily Creator. Simple tips to help you write well + build your audience, every weekday.
Join 1,700+ others (FREE): thedailycreator.news
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