Summary

The author, Noah Nelson, discusses three challenges they face as a young writer: indecision about what to write and publish next, and the insecurity of thinking their work will go unread.

Abstract

Noah Nelson, a journalism student and writer, shares the struggles of being a young writer in a candid article. He admits that writing is a challenging endeavor, fraught with uncertainty and self-doubt. Despite having numerous ideas, Nelson often grapples with choosing which story to pursue next, sometimes starting articles without finishing them. The dilemma extends to the publishing phase, where he is unsure whether to release multiple pieces simultaneously or space them out, fearing reader disappointment or disengagement. Additionally, Nelson reveals a persistent anxiety that his articles will not be read, reflecting a common insecurity among writers. He acknowledges these issues are not unique to him and emphasizes the importance of addressing them, though he is yet to find a solution. The article concludes with Nelson inviting other writers to relate to his experiences and consider writing for Medium.

Opinions

Nelson believes that the uncertainty of what to write next is a significant issue, shared by writers across time.
He is undecided about the best strategy for publishing his finished articles, considering the potential impact on his audience.
Despite having an audience, Nelson consistently worries that each new article will not gain attention, indicating a struggle with self-doubt.
The author suggests that the true measure of a writer is not the absence of problems but the ability to overcome them, although he admits to not knowing where to begin with his own challenges.
Nelson values reader engagement and is concerned about maintaining it through his publishing choices.
He sees writing as an activity that requires both hard work and dedication, despite the inherent difficulties.

3 Issues I Have as a Young Writer

I’m not sure how to solve these issues either.

Writing is difficult. There are no two ways around it.

It comes with many perks. But it also comes with several backlashes.

These are the 3 issues I keep having as a young writer:

1. I Never Know What to Write Next

This is a big issue for me.

I have tons of ideas for a new story for Medium, Vocal Media, books and so much more. But I never know what to write next.

Sometimes when I’m feeling good about a certain topic, I will write that. But much of the time, I don’t ever finish the article and then put it off to the side.

There are also times when two ideas are exciting at the same time, but I’m not sure which one to choose. If I write one, then I will probably lose interest in the other.

My mind is all of the place sometimes when I write. It’s a blessing and a curse.

However, I’m probably not alone in this situation. Writers of the past, present, and future have this same issue.

I’m just not sure how to solve it at times.

2. I Don’t Know What to Publish Next

When I do finish two or more articles, then I know the publishing phase comes next. And I’m not sure what to do.

Should I publish them at the same time because they’re in different publications? Should I publish one now and wait later for the other?

I know writers who do either of these acts. But I’m not sure which path to follow.

I’ve done both of them in the past. But then the issue arises. I just don’t know what to publish next.

I don’t want to disappoint my readers, but I also don’t my writing to sit there without being read. It’s a dilemma I have yet to solve.

3. I Never Think Anyone Will Read It

Every time one of my articles is published, I always have a feeling it will just sit there.

No views
No reads
No claps
No highlights
No nothing.

I don’t know why but I seem to think it will be just another article taking up space. I know it’s being insecure, but I have yet to solve this issue too.

I eventually do have viewers and readers which I am grateful for every day. But sometimes with each article, I think it will be the one that’s the beginning of the end.

I know I’m probably not the only writer with this issue either.

Closing Thoughts

No one said writing was going to be easy.

Like anything in life, it takes hard work and dedication if you really want it. But issues will always arise.

It’s not the issues that define us. It’s how we solve them that does.

I’m just not sure how to take the first step.

Do You Experience Any of These Issues Too?

Noah Nelson is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in journalism with minors in political science and history. He serves as a senior columnist for The Daily Illini, a writer on Medium, and the host of his blog called Nothing But Noah. “Life: A Collection of Short Stories” is his first book available now on Amazon. Like what you read? You can write for Medium too!