Editor’s Picks — Top 10: To Be a Top Writer You Must Write

Read these top 10 writers who courageously wrote their masterpieces for you

Most of the new writers think they have nothing to write. They believe their stories are not worth telling — that they should not waste the reader’s time.

The reality of the matter is exactly the opposite. New writers have more things to say than old writers. Old writers write more because they know how to write — not because they have more things to say.

The young writers are often more imaginative. Their views and issues are more relevant to the age group willing to learn new things by reading someone who knows their dilemmas.

Most of the new writers — and non-writers — can speak without a break for hours. They can argue for hours using words. But when someone asks to write their views, they fail to produce a meaningful paragraph, or sometimes, even a single sentence.

Just record your argument with a friend on some important topic. You can then transcribe your words. You will get a written log of your discussion. Do you think it is ready for publishing?

Definitely not. You will have to remove all the unnecessary sentences and words. Then you’ll have to add some information to make it easy to understand for your reader. You have to rearrange some of the paragraphs, and you will have to refine some of the arguments. Now, you can show it to someone, and if it makes sense to that person, you have become a writer.

If you look at it like that, you can say that every person who can talk can be a writer. But being a writer is not just about converting your ideas into words and then publishing it.

It is about accepting the responsibility of what you have written — that it is true, and you really believe it to be true.

Accepting responsibility for your written words requires both courage and confidence.

Where can you find the confidence and the courage that can make you a writer?

What converts a talker or a chatterbox into a writer, is the confidence stemming from reading great writers. When you see how they transformed their ordinary feelings into remarkable pieces of art, you secretly wish to do likewise. But you still can’t find the courage.

The courage a writer requires is similar to the courage a boxer needs. You will be punched if you make the wrong move. The only thing that gives the young man — who wishes to be a boxer — the courage to go into the arena is his passion — to win.

When your wish to convert your life events into masterpieces becomes a burning desire, you will find your courage to write your words and then stand behind them with confidence.

But just because you wrote your feelings — and you told your stories — does not mean someone will not challenge your opinions and feelings.

It is when you have to decide to read a lot. Support your work with researches, references, and quotes from people who are an authority in their fields. Your article must present a winning case in front of the jury of your readers.

Here is the list of our top 10 stories today:

10. How The Phrase “I Will Try” Keeps Us Away From Achieving Our Goals

Laine Kaleja is a mindset and life purpose coach. She likes to learn more about psychology and personal growth.

She is a superb writer. Her writing style is full of wisdom and it is very engaging. She tells you new things about topics that affect your life. Don’t forget to check her other work.

What we think, we say, and what we say we do. Our results come from our actions. Before we take action, we have a thought, or we say a word.

One of the wisest steps in our growth process is to pay attention to our words. What are the words we use when we talk about ourselves, our dreams, goals, other people, our circumstances, and our commitment?

9. 5 Tricks to Help You Perfect Your Grilling Routine

Chris Kong is a consummate foodie with a love for his family and interesting food experiences. Chris holds an MA in Leadership and is an avid home cook.

His writing style is tasty and engaging. Don’t miss this one.

Have you ever been to a BBQ where someone served you pink chicken? It’s more than a faux pas — it’s an insult!

Cooking on a grill isn’t rocket science, but dialing in your grilling routine will set you apart from the rest.

I have been grilling for many years, and I have made my fair share of mistakes.

The following tricks have helped me to hone my skills behind the grill.

8. There is a Piece of George Bailey in All of Us

Sarah Seweryniak believes one good story can change your life. She is an excellent writer. She writes about marketing, self-improvement, and parenting. Don’t forget to check her other work.

Every Christmas season I sit down and watch the film: It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s a beloved tradition that I’ve been doing for my entire 33 years on this earth.

This film always leaves me with such nostalgia. I have fond memories of my childhood. I remember my father getting the popcorn ready and gathering in a darkened family room with the Christmas lights’ warm glow from the tree.

As the film would play, I would start to feel the weight in my eyes. I’d begin to fade. I’d try to fight off the sleepiness, but my young body wouldn’t win. I’d wake when I’d feel my father scoop me up and carry me to bed. Each morning I’d awake so disappointed that I never got to finish the film.

7. How to Stop Dating and Start a Relationship

Laura Silverstein, LCSW is idealistic couples therapist yearning to help build connection. She is a fabulous writer as well. If you like this story, follow her and check her other work.

You don’t want to go on another first date in your life. You’re ready for long-term love and can’t figure out why date after date isn’t working out. You start to wonder if it ever will.

You’re not sure if you can handle stressing out about another mini-breakup with someone you don’t even like, or looking at no new notifications as you’re waiting for a response to your text.

6. How To Speak Up with Confidence

Naouress Akrouti is a language and communication coach. She is an outstanding writer as well. Her writing voice is pleasant, candid, and highly engaging.

If you start reading this story, it’ll take just a minute to read. It is a very well-written story. Also, you must check her past work.

With the rise of social media platforms and online communication, the in-person communication has dwindled. The real human interaction that we used to engage in is becoming less appreciated. People freak out when they receive a call. They prefer to get a message instead.

Less friction, babe. You got it!

5. How Pope Nicholas V Used the Church to Start the Disgraceful Slave Trade

Allison Gaines is a black womanist, Masters in Psychology, and a teacher. She is an outstanding writer. If you love history, don’t miss this one. Please do check her other work.

In 1452, Pope Nicholas V charged Alfonso of Portugal with the Christian duty to enslave any non-Christian. The Pope’s act would be the first recorded international edict to literally grant a Christian nation the right to promote, enforce, and heavily profit from slave trading. Decades later, Pope Alexander VI beckoned Christian monarchs to conquer native populations in the name of the Catholic Church, upholding his predecessor’s tradition to enslave non-Christians in whatever lands they called home (Muhammad, 2019).

While discussions about slavery often center on European nations’ wrongdoings, historians often obscure the role of the Catholic Church. The truth is like the sound of an alarm after a long night of drinking; it may sound unpleasant, but it is essential to move on from the drunken stupor.

4. Most People Fail Because They Do This First (Big Mistake)

Isaiah McCall is a USA Today Reporter and Ultramarathoner. He writes about cryptocurrency, fitness hacks, and Greek philosophy.

He is a superb writer. If you have not seen the past Top 10 lists, he is in most of them. Do check his other work.

When looking at someone who has achieved much in life, we often compare ourselves to the final version:

Kobe Bryant was simply a gifted basketball player that relied on his genetics.

Stephen King was born to write; he came into the world pen in hand, ready to give us “Carrie.”

In reality, these individuals were talented, yes, but it was the unglamorous, rarely seen hard work that created the legends they became.

3. The Long Run Just Sort of Happens

Kevin Lee is a lover of life and coffee. He is a former investment analyst and a persistent risk-taker who lives in London. He is an excellent writer. You’ll love his work. Don’t miss this masterpiece.

Despite all you have read about self-improvement, do you still struggle to develop a long-term perspective or mindset?

I know I do.

My view of the long term isn’t anywhere near as sexy as others make it out to be. But it can still be helpful.

Is there anything more subjective and vague than how we define the long and short term? These are relative measures of time specific to each individual. The only thing we could agree on is that the medium-term is somewhere in between.

2. Why Negative Thinking is the Worst Form of Self-Sabotage

Dawn Bevier is a teacher, thinker, and lifelong learner. She is a great writer as well. Her writing voice is very engaging and thought-provoking in this story. If you want to learn to write well, you must follow her and wait for her future stories.

There’s a game going on in my brain, and right now, I’m on my way to a crushing defeat. It’s my self-esteem versus my inner voice, and my inner voice is a bitch. She’s ruthless and she doesn’t play fair. And before I even hop on the playing field to work towards my dreams, she’s convinced me I need to save my time and forfeit the game. Her secret? She gets into my head and whispers wickedly:

“You’re a loser”

“Who are you to think you can (fill in the blank)”

“Why waste your energy on something you know you can’t achieve?”

“You’re stupid to think you can be a success like (fill in the blank)”

“You just don’t have have it takes”

1. Waiting For Your Big Break is The Worst Way to Succeed

At number one, it is Thomas Oppong. He is one of the established superstars of Medium. His stories have been featured at Forbes, Business Insider, and other top publications.

Read his stories to learn to write and to live. His writing style is almost perfect — a writer who has already achieved what most of us wish to reach.

Most people are waiting for a big break — the day, week, month or year everything falls into place. They live with the stubborn illusion that one day they will make it big without embracing the real work.

It’s the worst way to live or aim for success. Waiting for the next big break in your career is probably holding you back.

The best way to succeed is to embrace the work ahead and proactively plan the steps and actions you need to get closer to the life you want.

Napoleon Hill once said, “Do not wait: the time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along.”

Final Thoughts

If your story was selected as one of the Top 10, please share another one of your stories in the comments with a brief introduction and a short review that can convince a reader to read your piece. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. Dr Mehmet Yildiz, the Chief Editor and Founder of Illumination and Illumination-Curated, read, highlighted, and applauded every good story when he started his publications. He still reads almost all of the good ones. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the masterpieces.

Dr Mehmet Yildiz has kindly allowed our top 10 series a full shelf on the front page of Illumination-Curated and Illumination:

So, help me to find and rank the best work of the writers of Illumination and Illumination-Curated.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

To improve your odds of success as a writer, read these curation guidelines.

You can read my curated stories here.