5 Temptations To Avoid When You Start Writing Consistently

You want to regularly produce high-quality work. But also write for a long time.

You’ll have to carefully thread the needle to do both.

It’s not always easy to maintain your consistency or quality.

So keep your eyes open. There are several traps and temptations that are hard to avoid when you write on a regular basis.

Here are a few of them:

Temptation #1: Chasing the latest trends.

It’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends in writing, but top writers know that it’s important to focus on their own interests and core topics.

I’ve been on and off Medium for several years, and have also written, edited, or produced several hundred blog posts for startups and corporations. I know how hard it is to maintain focus when new things pop up.

Don’t follow the trends just for the sake of following them.

• If you’re not into fitness, don’t write about it.
• If you’re not into analyzing the latest TikTok dance moves, don’t do it.
• If you don’t care about trading on margin, then don’t offer your opinion about it.

It’s okay to pass. Write what you know while researching what you don’t. Be content to wait for something that you can really dig into.

Temptation #2: Overthinking your work.

One of the biggest enemies of creativity is overthinking. Top writers know that it’s important to just write and not worry about whether or not their work is perfect.

They understand that the best way to improve their writing is to simply practice, get feedback, and make changes where necessary. You won’t get better in isolation.

And you remember more about your writing than your audience will. The thing that you’re worried about will most likely fade away and not re-appear.

In fact, many of the best writers and creators frequently re-share their same tweets or tips after a few months. The audience has evolved and changed and has a short memory.

Temptation #3: Not taking risks.

High-performing writers aren’t afraid to take risks. They know that in order to stand out from the crowd, they need to be willing to experiment and try new things. That’s not only with topics, it’s also how they approach packaging or their offerings. The gates have been slammed down and the top writers are marching through. They don’t let fear of failure hold them back, and they’re always looking for new ways to improve their writing.

The writer Lisa Olivera has hundreds of thousands of social media followers but was still unwilling to charge for her high-premium work, according to a recent Substack entry.

The whole thing is worth a read, but look at this key part about why she was afraid of selling more of her work:

There is stuff around money and earning, valuing my work and naming it as worth paying for — around messages from people telling me I don’t need to “become a sell-out like everyone else” — around not wanting to let people down or embarrass myself — around fear of messing up, not meeting expectations, failing — around not wanting to do things a million people are already doing (as if that isn’t the only option with anything we do) — around perfectionism as the standard I’ll never meet. But mostly, there is fear of the unknown: of not knowing how it will go, and not knowing how anyone will respond, and it (and me) therefore being safer not trying at all.

She was afraid of the risks, even though she seemed to have a big audience on the outside. Thankfully, it looks like she’s embracing it.

Temptation #4: Trying to please everyone.

It’s impossible to please everyone, so the best writers don’t even try.

They focus on writing for their target audience and don’t worry about who their work isn’t reaching, but are working at making great fans out of the people they are reaching.

In turn, their work will be more authentic and engaging.

Temptation #5: Not enough self-care.

Burn out is real. Top writers know that it’s important to take care of themselves both physically and mentally. The ones who try to burn it on every end will eventually be a crisp. With nothing left.

They aren’t superhuman. They don’t push themselves too hard. They know that taking breaks, getting enough sleep, and developing smart systems are essential for their productivity.

On your writing path, it’s important to avoid these temptations. These seem like shortcuts but they’ll have long-term effects.

Remember To Do This

Those were the temptations to avoid, but what should you actually do? What are the keys to remember on your writing path?

• Consistency is key, but consistency does not equal perfection.
• It’s important to set realistic goals for yourself and be kind to yourself when you don’t meet them.
• Celebrate your successes and stack small wins. Those keep you motivated.

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