I’ve been writing my entire life, and for the past year, writing for a living. I consider myself ridiculously lucky to have transitioned from one profession to another. I love the freedom of expression behind writing. I love how it clarified my thinking and most of all, I love the satisfaction of putting together the perfect series of words in the right sentences.
Today, I’m spilling the secrets and condensing some of the most valuable pieces of writing advice I wish I’d known back when I started. Keep in mind, writing is an extensive skill and the tips here won’t work unless you do. In the next 4 minutes, you’re going to learn about the mindset and strategies of a successful and authentic writer.
Set Your Intentions
Everyone knows how to write, but only a few know how to write well. If you think about it, we all send messages and emails. However, just a few of us take that one, small, extra step and publish what we’ve written on the internet.
From the dozens of conversations I’ve had with doctors, founders, and new creators, I’ve realized that for most, it’s not that they aren’t capable enough writers, it’s that they’re simply scared of the unknown. They’re afraid to take the plunge and are worried about being judged. The weight of people disagreeing or not liking what they have to say is far overbearing than they can justify.
What I can say for certain is that these are feelings that never leave you. The more you care about a creative project, the greater the resistance you will feel. If you let these presumptions dictate your actions, you will always feel stuck.
So if you don’t want to write online, that’s okay. But if you do, here’s my advice.
Take a second to ask yourself, “Why do I want to write?”. It might seem like a trivial question, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to answer. This is the question that will help cut through the doubt, indecision, and impostor syndrome that you’re going to feel each time you get to work. Think about what you want to become and how writing can help you get there. What are the obstacles you’re willing to overcome and what impact do you want to have with your words?
All great things begin with writing. Ideas, visions, and thoughts are all compounded once you put them into words. And once you clarify your “why”, the “how” becomes much, much easier.
Create More Than You Consume
There are always two sides to the digital age: consumers and creators. Consumers have an illusion of choice. They read what a creator writes and buy what a producer sells. Most of them, in the eyes of creators, corporations, and businesses, will always just be a number on a screen.
A few years ago, I came across the 90-9-1 rule and it’s stuck with me ever since. It states that 90% of the world is consumers, 9% are occasional creators, and just 1% are creators. Now, just imagine what’s possible when you’re the one creating assets that the world desires rather than consuming them. How would that change your life?
I can give you a sneak peek into what it’s like being on the other side. Not only does this switch immediately differentiate you from the masses, but it also allows you to build digital leverage.
I like to think of it this way: both consumers and creators have thoughts that can change the world. But these thoughts aren’t easy to extract, and sometimes, you need the help of others to find them. To put it into perspective, unless you write, your ideas won’t come to life, and unless you publish, they simply won’t be heard.
Focus
One of my mentors taught me a lesson that changed how I viewed writing online for good: It’s not about you, it’s about your audience.
It’s easy to get excited when you first start. Unlike writing when you were in high school, you have no rules and restrictions. The only problem is that this approach scatters your attention into things that don’t matter.
People want to read your work not just for what it is, but for what it can do for them. As humans, we are selfish. Transactional, if you will. You can hack the system as much as you want, but the bottom line is that your writing must give people a reason to follow you.
Some good questions to think about are:
- What’s one burning problem you can solve for others?
- What are some recent obstacles that you’ve overcome?
- What are the greatest points of transformation you’ve made?
The aim of your writing is to be memorable and unique. Think about exactly what’s in it for your readers and how are you going to connect with them beyond just the numbers.
However, if you think you need to be an expert in the areas you write about, think again. Your audience wants to connect with you. It’s your responsibility to open up your stories, experiences, and world to them.
Specificity Matters
The way new and experienced writers think isn’t the same.
One benefits most by going broad and writing about several topics that align with their curiosities, the other succeeds by being specific and precise.
There are a few things that only you are uniquely positioned to say. Opinions that others may disagree with, beliefs you feel strongly about, or skills that fall into your zone of expertise. Find them and write about them. Then, once you’re at the stage where you built confidence, get even more specific. This means with everything you publish, write to one person, express one big idea, and solve one specific problem.
The more times you’re able to repeat this process, the greater the likelihood your writing will stick with your readers.
Show, Don't Tell
Telling someone what to think is easy, but showing them why something matters is a completely different game. When you write, you need to create an emotional connection with your readers and back what you say with proof.
Suppose you’re writing a post about your experience launching a business. You could either start it off with “Everyone should build a business, here’s how I built mine,” or “I made $123,456 in my first year as a writer with no formal experience. Here’s how I did it in just 2 hours a day.”
Which title captures your attention and gets you curious?
In essence, the idea is simple: connect with your reader’s emotions and give them a reason to trust you. That changes the delivery and reception of everything you have to say.
In the body of the same piece, writing “I’ve always known building a business is essential” compared to “the day my boss called me into his office, screamed at me at the top of his lungs about a project I had no relation with, was the same day I knew I had to quit my job and start my business.” One simply tells. But the other lets the reader see, feel, and experience the moment themselves.
If you want to take things a step further, write like you're speaking with someone rather than at someone. This means using the words “you” and “I” as often as possible. Keep revising your writing for any bits that feel vague and generic. Because remember that your readers want to feel heard. They want to feel special. Your writing is as close as it gets to an invitation into the way you see the world.
A good rule to keep in mind is to imagine that everything you write online should replicate a letter to your best friend. You wouldn’t say “Building a business is the first step to freedom”, but you might say “Last week, I connected with a startup founder who told me about the first time he met Mark Zuckerberg”. The second sentence creates curiosity, while the first, as you can tell, does nothing for the reader.
Respect your readers. They’re smart, capable, and ready to make their own decisions. Don’t demand their trust. Earn it.
Thank you for reading today’s newsletter.
In case you missed the previous edition, How To Reinvent Your Life, you can check out the online version with the link above.
And if you'd like to check out more in-depth writing systems and strategies, check out The Doctors and Writers newsletter and The Doctors and Writers podcast.
Stay tuned for the final edition of the series this week: How to Sell.
See you then.
Dr. Pranav