6 Mental Habits for More Effective Writing
If you want to be a successful writer, start thinking like one
Do you know where to put a comma in a sentence? Great.
Do you know how to hook the readers? Effective writing is more than grammatically correct one.
Effective writing gets the job done. It is plain and simple.
— Jeff Goins
Nobody stumbles upon success. It is the product of your thoughts and habits. They make up your personality.
Your personality determines your success.
What mental strategies sum up effective writing?
Be You.
Social media offers an irresistible temptation to copy others.
Yet, good writing is saturated with personality.
There has never been a better time for creators to get their ideas across. But, it means competition is on the rise. Your writing needs to stand out in the sea of other writers. And what is more unique than being you?
Don’t try to copy other writers. Find your voice, your angle, and write your heart out.
Create a brand. Be it sarcasm, excruciating honesty, or vulnerability. Think about what can stand out in your writing.
What makes you, you? What makes you a good friend, listener, speaker, and motivator? What is the reason people crave your advice?
Nobody in the world can be a better you than you are.
Being true to yourself is the lifeblood of your creative power.
Be Controversial.
You won’t please everybody. People pleasers end up forsaking their ambitions.
You cannot be authentic and not strike some nerves. As long as you try to buy into everybody’s good books, you won’t find your voice.
Dare to have an opinion. Objective writing is boring writing. People read because they are after emotions. If you want engagement in your blog, deliver those emotions.
Be direct with your ideas.
Be confident about the topic you write about. It means research beforehand.
Use strong verbs.
You want to be persuasive.
If you want your writing to stand out in this crowded online world, it needs to be fierce.
Be Persistent.
First drafts usually suck.
Effective writing is born out of consistent practice.
The fact that nobody clicked on your first articles does not permit you to give up.
Write each day. It is the best advice if you want to get better at writing.
The more you cook, the more you learn about the taste and the combination of food—the same with writing. The more you write, the more you expand your skills.
The more you write, the better your confidence gets.
Write because it is your job. Show up every day.
Today, you may have zero subscribers and zero articles published. It is the point. You have to be a beginner to become an expert.
If you want to be successful in a specific area — do not give up.
A year from now, you will be in a completely different place. You will get better at your craft. You will have assembled more published articles. But you have to start.
Be Concise.
An excellent writer can put an idea across in one sentence.
Instead of delivering a lengthy dissertation, cut to the chase.
Readers are impatient. They refuse to waste time looking for answers. They want an instant solution.
Don’t bore your readers. Give them answers.
Prioritize simplicity.
Clarity makes you more persuasive.
Be Observant.
Stories are everywhere.
Go beyond seeing. Get into the habit of observing.
Ditch the phone. Get outside. Sip coffee and watch people, their interactions, and body language. What stories do they hide?
Take a walk, or sit under a tree and allow nature to inspire you. What does the air smell like? How does it feel when the sun kisses your cheek?
Look at the world through different angles — through the eyes of a child or a person on a deathbed. Your pages reflect the way you see the world.
Where do your thoughts lead you?
What emotions manifest in your body? What makes you feel alive?
First, turn your attention outwards to observe the surroundings. Mute the mental chatter. Slow down. Next, peer inside and notice how it makes you feel.
See the mundane with a new set of lenses. Nowadays, people see, but they do not perceive. Being observant is a skill. Practice it daily.
Be Curious.
Approach life through the eyes of a student. Be open for growth.
Learn something new every day. It doesn’t have to be writing-related. Creativity waits around every corner.
Experiment in the kitchen. Read random blog posts. Take courses in writing, photography, and brewing coffee. Travel solo.
Read comments under articles or YouTube videos. They are a fascinating source of inspiration.
Get curious about yourself. Why did I react to that comment? What made me feel angry? Curiosity tempers the soul. It is a self-discovery tool.
Staying curious guarantees a never-ending torrent of ideas to write about.
It is how you get out of the rut. It is how you turn up the value of your life experiences.
Close the door. And write.
Thank you for being here, — Kate
