I keep waiting for something to click. Like I’m going to understand how to rocket myself to success as a Writer in an instant. This is easy..at least I thought that at first. I keep wondering about all the little things — like when will I set up my outlines?; pretty presents that make my job easier. It’s also one of the things the big wigs say will help launch my brand in no time.
Yeah. So I’ve heard.
A little over a million times.
The recycled outline with a different phrase gets the point across yet lacks a real connection. I respect their success, but as a writer I’d rather make noise. I want to stir up the standard thinking when it comes to telling stories — both real and imagined. I don’t want to say words for the sake of saying words; I want to tug at the strings that make people unique. I want to remind you that writing is not only the act of connecting with others but yourself as well.
Writing is the song of your soul — if I were to try and express it poetically.
Remember, There’s More Than One Way To Write A Story
One of the first things I noticed while scrolling online for inspiration is that everyone seems to write the same thing. Sure, they use slightly different words, but the main point is the same.
Write like this.
- Generic Heading Promising Answers
- Numbered Subtitles (5 Max)
- Five Sentences Max, Each Paragraph
- Recycle & Reuse Old Material
And so on — it’s boring. After reading so many articles with the same cut-and-paste outline, I skip over most of the piece. I get the gist after skimming it. But that’s not what writing or reading is about in my opinion. Not to mention it kills the actual reading time you could gain from someone if they become interested in what you have to say. It would be wise to write as if the reader is someone other than a robot looking for ABC information. The person on the other side of the screen is another human, looking for a connection. Don’t let the gorilla glass and deluxe keyboard fool you.
Writing Is An Aged Art
Stories have been told for over 30,000 years — both in drawings and oral retellings — yet this is where we stand? Some quick tweets of 280 characters, memes that express how we really feel inside, and specific how-to’s on writing blog posts so everything appears uniform?
Sometimes I think we take for granted just how much writing impacts our lives today. From a business side, weaving a story can help determine whether an ad will impact the target audience the right way; how do you make someone feel like they need your product? You make them care about your brand, your success, or the mission being worked on. Telling stories helps you empathize with other people and their experiences. It boils down to how well you communicate and creativity. Although writing appears to be a black-and-white process, it’s more of an art form that demands just the same attention as a painter does their craft.
Inspiration Can Be Found Anywhere
I’ve finished reading another page of Goldberg’s book and found the desire to begin a completely new piece (if you’re reading this now, I’ve managed to slay the ADHD part of my mind for the moment). Art begets more art.
Every day is full of stories that we often view as ordinary. Life can be face-paced and we’re not often able to stop and appreciate the small things.
“In order to write about life first you must live it.” — Ernest Hemingway
I often recall memories of walking to work from home (about 4 miles). I’d pop in headphones and focus on the world around me as I traveled, observing the behaviors of strangers. I took the time to relax and let my mind wander, ultimately helping spark creativity. Since resorting to mostly living indoors these past two years, I’ve noticed a decline in my ability to think of stuff on the fly.
I may not know exactly where my writing career is heading; there’s so many avenues I could pursue. But one thing I know for certain — I love writing and I’m going to do my best to create unforgettable content and share any tips I may come across along the journey.
