Blogging Again: Why writing again is exhilarating?

How I found a different perspective while blogging the second time around?

I used to maintain a personal blog until 2013. 2013 was a prolific year for me. I wrote 35 posts with 30 of them in one month. Then I got married and for the next 8 years could only muster 8 posts.

I started writing on Medium last year again when the pandemic began, but it went nowhere. I wrote 3 posts, and I learned publications are a big thing. None of them were going to publish my articles unless they are 4–5 minutes and I have 20 posts in my profile. I was wrong on that front, but did not know then.

I started again this year like a hopeless fool in love with writing. The first few posts were from my work and were technical. I was desperate to find a starting point. Words sputtered and stopped. I spent hours reading everything that I could on how to become successful on medium. This taught me few things.

Writing is a responsibility

I used to write for the fun of writing. I wrote one or two pieces per month when I was the most prolific. There was no pattern then. It was whatever my mind could muster. Few people read my blog and I was not worried about that. I would share it on my Twitter feed. I would wait for my friends’ reaction and then forget about it after a couple of days.

Now I understand my writing is a service provided to my readers. It is my responsibility readers get value from my writing. I need to make it worth their time.

Writing more creates better writing

Once, I had got drunk on a Friday night and posted on Facebook — “I want to write”. It was not earth-shattering. I got two likes. But one reply that I still remember — “Then go write”

It made sense, I thought, after these 8 years. There is nothing stopping me from writing. Like any skill in life, the more I work on it, the better I get. I used to struggle with ideas when I blogged before. But now, after the first few posts, I have few posts always in my mind and in my drafts that I can source for inspiration.

Training to write is important

Earlier, I did not seek training in writing. I only thought of learning as in schools or colleges. I did not want to invest time in learning, as writing was only a hobby.

But now I understand that learning from other authors will help me. I picked up On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott. It helped me understand what it takes to be a writer. I joined few online courses as well. The time investment was minimal and I can improve by investing little time over a long period.

Writing is about being vulnerable

I used to blog about crazy ideas. I now know I was afraid of exposing my inner fears. It led me to write on things that had to be 100% fiction or put a million layers over the truth I was exposing. This type of writing had its advantages. It was fun for readers and I enjoyed reading them.

But it did not feel right for me. I understood I can only write my best when I can be true to myself. It means I have to learn to be vulnerable. All excellent writers were vulnerable. It is one aspect of being a writer.

The question arises — “Do I want to write those crazy ideas?” The answer is — “Oh hell, yes”. I still want to write crazy fiction. As I grow in my writing, I will write those posts. The difference would be that it will be crazy not to hide but to show.

Writing is about digging deep

One reason what discouraged me from writing was that it took a lot out of me. People used to come to me and say — “Dishit, I liked the last post. It was outstanding. How can you think of such things?” I would reply — “Thank you. It happens.” I would think to myself — “You do not know what it took for me to make it happen”

I now enjoy the process and the challenge. It is about digging deep to find the words until I get the flood of words that I need. Over the last couple of months, I also learned a few tricks where I didn’t stay stuck for long.

Writing is about problem-solving

This was one of the key lessons I learned on my latest expedition to write more. I did not know this when I was blogging. Now, a prompt challenge, an idea is a problem to solve.

I do not know the answer to the problem when I start as before. But I poke, look under, feel, listen to understand the nature of the problem. I then think left, right, up, down, and twist until I find an answer. Sometimes the answer is definite. More often than not, the answer leads to questions that I answer in a new article.

Writing is a decades-long journey

This is a lesson I stumbled upon reading Asimov during the pandemic. I had taken up a project to read his Foundation series and Robot series. I read in the order Asimov published instead of the chronological order that he suggested. Asimov published the trilogy of the Foundation series in 1950–1953. Asimov published first sequel of The Foundation series in 1982.

I was astonished to see the difference between the two sets of writing. The difference in writing between two books across 30 years inspired me. It meant even one of the best was not the best when he started. So I can do it as well. It also related to another book I read — Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck

It gave me the confidence that until I focus on getting better, I will only improve with time and more writing.

Conclusion

I am thrilled about writing again. It is satisfying. Being on Medium has helped me find other writers and their experiences have enriched my writing. I still write for fun. But getting better is also a goal that I have. My writing still has a long way to go. But as my friend replied to my drunk post — Go write!