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For the longest time of my life, I thought writing was a challenging skill to learn.
It was mostly because I was finding it difficult to get inspired, develop my ideas, or didn't know how to write engaging content. I was also frustrated that writing didn't come to me naturally, especially when I was writing content for the SaaS companies I was working for, and it wasn't fulfilling.
Eight weeks back, I stumbled upon this podcast episode by Adam Grant interviewing Andy Weir, the author of the famous sci-fi series The Martian. In this episode, Andy talks about his experience with writing, how much he hates to do it, and how he overcomes this feeling by motivating himself.
It was an eye-opening moment to realize my favorite authors out there do not exactly find writing as something like a walk in the park. So, I motivated myself to start writing, and here I am with these blogs!
In this particular blog, we'll explore:
Steps to start writing
Practical tips to help you become a better writer
Free tools for writing
To be a good writer, you need to be an avid reader. So, let's start reading this blog first 😀
Steps to start writing
Getting started is the toughest part of writing. You need to know what to write, how to write, where to publish, or why you are even writing. So, here are the steps that can help you stop procrastinating and create your writing process.
Define your purpose
Before starting a blog or writing a short story, defining the purpose behind writing this particular piece is crucial. Are you trying to educate your audience, share your story, build a portfolio, establish yourself as an author, become a thought leader, or publish your novel? Understanding your purpose will fuel you to complete your writing tasks, stick to a routine, and help you achieve your goals.
Define your target audience
Understanding your readers is significant to write effectively. Whether it's a 12-year-old Greek nerd or a 55-year-old startup CEO, you must style your writing according to their needs, interests, and level of expertise. Defining these personas ensures your writing resonates with your intended readers and communicates your message effectively.
Make a list of topics to write
Once you define your target audience, you have to get your ideas in line. If you've got 100 ideas brimming in your mind, I'd suggest you cluster them and pick the one you know. If you're finding it difficult to get ideas, I'd recommend you pay attention to everything around you.
Ideas can come from anywhere - a conversation, a book, an article, while walking your dog, or even a random thought. The moment you get an idea, good or bad, add it to your repository of ideas on your notes app or a journal. These ideas can become valuable starting points for writing or take you in the right direction!
"When you start paying extra attention to ordinary things, it becomes extraordinary."
~ Austin Kleon in Keep Going
Dump your thoughts
Once you have a bunch of ideas, choose the one you want to write. Start by writing everything that comes to your mind about the topic without worrying about grammar, structure, and coherence. In this process, getting as much content as you know about the topic is essential rather than the perfection of your first draft. If you need help to start, I'd suggest you skip this and move to step 7 directly!
Develop a structure for your content piece
After brain-dumping your thoughts, it is good to develop a structure that can make your writing more coherent and reader-friendly. The outline of your content piece can include something like this - a trilogy for sci-fi nerds with each book having 20 chapters, a blog piece with headings and subheadings, a news article regarding bushfires with the timeline of events, etc. A well-organized structure is the roadmap for your content and helps you stay on track while writing.
Research the keywords
The content you've written in your first draft is full of keywords. As you create the structure of your content, start marking the keywords and do a quick Google search to know how many people have written about it and if you can take inspiration from them.
Read, read, and read!
Reading is the cornerstone of becoming a better writer. Once you've found relevant articles on the topic, actively engage with what you read, analyzing the writing style, structure, and tone of different authors. Exploring various authors and genres helps you diversify your knowledge and helps you internalize good writing practices.
Be mindful of the sentence structure
With the limited attention spans of the audience, it's hard to keep them engaged for a long time. So, keep your sentences simple, clear, and brief, thus lessening information overload. I'm still struggling to do this, but if you can find ideas regarding this, add them in the comment section!
Write the introduction last
While it may seem counterintuitive, writing your introduction last can be a smart strategy. Once you've written the main body of your content, you'll have a clearer understanding of the key points and ideas, which allows you to create an introduction that effectively sets the stage for what follows.
Add a call-to-action to your conclusion
A strong conclusion is an opportunity to encourage your readers to buy the sequel of your book series, reflect on your message, or explore related topics. Therefore, it's necessary to include a clear and compelling call to action in your conclusion to guide them further.
Let it simmer
After you've completed a part of your writing, set it aside for a while. Taking breaks between writing and revising sessions allows you to come back with fresh eyes and a more critical perspective, leading to better revisions and improvements.
Seek feedback
One of the most effective ways to improve your writing is to get feedback from others. A mentor or a trusted friend can provide valuable insights, share their experiences, and guide you in refining your writing skills.
Revise, improve, and repeat
It's rare to write a perfect blog or story in a couple of sittings. So, embrace the multi-step revision process. Your revision should mainly focus on clarity, coherence, and grammar. Writing is a lifelong process; improvising is necessary to become a good writer. Therefore, you have to rinse and repeat!
Five tips to hone your writing skill
Here are some of the easy and actionable tips that will help you improve your writing!
Embrace mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of living in the present moment. It improves focus, creativity, and the quality of life. As a writer, being aware of your surroundings is essential, as it helps you gain perspective and find inspiration. So, how can you be mindful in your daily life?
Some mindfulness techniques I incorporate into my daily routine include meditation, dancing, cooking, eliminating distractions, and creating artwork. Dedicating 20-30 minutes to these techniques can help you calm your mind and improve your ability to focus. Also, your sleep is critical for your performance and motivation levels. One suggestion to sleep well is to turn off your phones 2 hours before sleeping. I bet you'll fall asleep quicker, sleep deeply, and wake up refreshed!
Create mind maps to combat writer's block
Writer's block is a common challenge for writers of all levels. When you find yourself staring at a blank page or struggling to find the right words, mind maps can be a valuable tool to break through the creative barrier. Here's how to use mind maps effectively:
Write down your main topic or idea in the center of a blank page.
Create branches from the central idea, each representing a subtopic or aspect related to your main topic. These branches can be as detailed or as broad as you need them to be.
Jot down related words, concepts, or ideas on each subtopic branch. Don't worry about structure or coherence; the goal is to generate ideas freely.
As you expand your mind map, you'll see connections between different branches and ideas, helping you identify potential angles for your writing.
If you're working on a larger project, you can create nested mind maps. Each subtopic can have its own mind map, allowing you to dive deeper into the details.
Review your mind map to identify the most compelling ideas or angles once it is complete. Use this to structure your writing and start crafting your piece.
Stick to a routine
Consistency is key when it comes to improving any skill. Establishing a routine helps you build discipline and steadily enhance your writing abilities. To create a routine, I follow two methods: Time blocking and task prioritization. For time blocking, I dedicate a specific time of the day to work on something. For instance, dedicate 20 minutes daily to write or aim to write a specific number of words daily (e.g., 1000).
If you're like me, trying to do ten tasks simultaneously without sticking to a routine, don't! This is when you need to prioritize the tasks according to the level of effort vs. time required to complete them. The table given below will provide insights on how to prioritize your tasks.
Focus is crucial when learning a new skill or honing a known one. If you struggle with multi-tasking, I suggest you read Hyper Focus by Chris Bailey.
Voice-record your ideas
When you struggle to write your thoughts or create a mind map, voice-record your ideas on your phone. Speaking out loud helps you get your thoughts in line, assemble them, enable you to consider multiple perspectives, sparks some interesting ideas, and bring you out of your writer's block. You can use voice-to-text translating tools like Otter.ai or the feature built into Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
Think in your writing language
While brainstorming your ideas or outlining the structure of the content piece, try to think in the language you're writing. Thinking in the same language helps you develop concepts in a coherent and cohesive manner, and more importantly, it enables you to enhance your creativity and develop a unique tone for your writing.
Free tools for writing
There are numerous free tools available that can help you improve your writing, streamline your workflow, and enhance your overall productivity. Some of them include:
Grammarly
Google Docs or Microsoft Word
Canva
Google BARD or ChatGPT
Trello
Medium or your website
Check your grammar and writing style with Grammarly
Grammarly is a well-known and highly regarded tool that checks your text for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, offering suggestions for corrections. Grammarly also analyzes your writing style, checks for plagiarism (only for the paid version), and provides recommendations to make your content more engaging and readable. Whether you're crafting an email, a blog post, or a research paper, Grammarly is an indispensable tool for improving your writing.
Translate voice-to-text using Google Docs or Microsoft Word
Google Docs and Microsoft Word offer built-in voice-to-text features where you can speak your thoughts, and the software will transcribe your words into text. It is useful for those who prefer dictating their ideas rather than typing them and saves time without worrying about typing errors. To find this feature, go to the Menubar, click Tools, scroll down, and select "Voice Typing," or simply use the “Ctrl+Shift+S"" shortcut.
Create eye-catching graphics with Canva
Visual content is an integral part of writing. Canva is an excellent tool for designing graphics and visuals to complement your written content. Canva offers a wide range of templates and customization options, making it easy for anyone to create professional-looking graphics, even if you have no design experience.
Generate ideas using Google BARD or ChatGPT
When you're facing writer's block or need quick inspiration, tools like Google BARD or ChatGPT can be a lifesaver. They can generate ideas, provide information, and answer questions, helping you kickstart your writing process.
Caution: Not all information provided by these tools is correct, so cross-check the suggestions using search engines like Google or Bing.
Organize and manage your tasks using Trello
Writing often involves juggling designing, reviews, editing, and, of course, writing. So, creating a timeline for all your writing projects is crucial. Trello is a fantastic free tool for task and project management. You can create boards, lists, and cards to organize your writing assignments, deadlines, and ideas. Trello's intuitive interface makes it easy to collaborate with team members and keep track of your progress.
Publish your content on Medium or your website
Once you've crafted your content piece, you need a platform to share it with the world. Medium is an excellent platform for publishing your writing, offering a built-in audience. Consider creating your own website or blog using platforms like Wix, Webflow, or Blogger. Having your website gives you more control over your content and branding.
Now that you've learned so much, it's time to write! Good luck!
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