Stop Worrying about Being a Good Writer and Write
Writing Challenge 2020 — write and publish.
Here’s the thing about writing, or any skill you are trying to master; it takes consistent practice to learn a new skill. Practice takes time. And with time, you can eventually master a skill.
“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” ― Jodi Picoult
Challenge for 2020
Write a lot, and dominate Medium.
Let’s become better writers in 2020 by writing — a lot.
You want to learn how to write better; this takes practice — daily.
Whether your goal is to write that novel you’ve been mulling over in your head for years or to earn an income from writing online, you need to know it takes practice and a daily writing habit.
You learn a skill — whether it is baking or playing the piano or writing — through doing it over and over again.
The beauty of writing is you can always grow your skills, hone your voice, and sharpen your talent.
I’ve posted consistently since June, writing every day.
My new goal — to post daily to my publication, The Write Path, dedicated mostly to writing. Since I’ve been writing for other publications, I’ve been neglecting my own. I’ve seen a steady increase in earnings each month but would like to build more of a following to my publication. That is my goal for 2020, to gain followers to the two publications I’ve started which will require posting to them at least twice a week, along with my daily publishing in other’s publications.
Challenge —
1. Write daily
Here’s the thing, the quickest way to become a better writer is to write, to write consistently, even if that’s only for twenty minutes a day on your lunch break or online at CVS or before you go to sleep.
The essential task of becoming a better writer is to write.
If you have five hours a day to dedicate to writing, even better, you will become a better writer faster is you dedicate as much time as you have to hone your craft.
I probably spend an hour to two hours a day writing, that may seem like a lot, but is it not that much compared to professional writers who make a full-time living from writing.
Write as much as you can, but aim for a large chunk of time dedicated to writing. Lousy writing leads to good writing. The more time you spend writing, the better you will get.
2. Edit before you publish
Edit at a different time than your writing time.
When we edit, we use a different part of our brain than when we write. It is better to edit on days you do not write. When I stick to this rule of editing on different day, the final product is better. When you step away from your writing for at least 24 hours, you come back to it with fresh eyes; the mistakes are glaringly obvious.
Distance creates a space for improvement in your work.
3. Publish at least twice a week
Stop seeking perfection in what you write and share your work.
There is no such thing as perfect writing. Even masters get better with regular practice.
Share your work to gain feedback from your audience via comments and shares. You will quickly find out what writing resonates with your followers, but only if you share.
When you keep your writing on your desktop, in a folder, or a notebook, you won’t benefit from feedback; you won’t find out how to improve if you don’t share.
4. Don’t be married to one particular time of day to write
Just write.
There are a lot of people who will disagree with this idea; it goes against most of the advice you read about how to write better.
Most writers insist that the first thing in the morning is the best time to write, and this may be true, but I think mixing up the time you write makes you a better writer.
For instance, I write better and with more clarity in the morning, so, therefore, you would assume that it is the only time I should be writing. But, I have been writing for a while now. Usually, I write in the morning, but I want to get better, and I know there is plenty of room for improvement.
Since I have mastered sitting down in the chair and dedicating vast chunks of time to my writing daily in the morning, I’m ready to challenge that notion and move my writing time to the afternoon or maybe the evening.
Switch up the time you write; this will lead to higher levels of creativity and may take your writing to the next level. The mind is more relaxed in the afternoon, and not so rigid, so we are freer to be more creative later in the day.
Experiment with different writing times during the day in the new year and see where it takes your writing.
5. Writer’s block
If you are experiencing writer’s block, start your writing process with writing 20 replies to emails in your inbox. A well-crafted email counts as writing and will make the blinking cursor on the empty page less daunting, and, at the least, you’ll be writing.
Writing is writing. Email counts.
6. Eliminate distractions
I have to put my phone a room, or two, away from my writing desk.
A distraction-free zone while writing results in more extended writing periods. There are apps you can get to block social media for a predetermined time. They are very helpful and will stop you from checking social media and your email, and will increase your overall writing time.
7. Write with intention
You can’t just write for money; it will show in your work. There are a lot of easier ways to make money other than writing. You have to love to write to do it consistently and for a long time.
Write on. See you in the new year.
Jessica is a writer, an online entrepreneur, and a recovering type-A personality. She lives in Los Angeles with her extrovert daughter, two dogs, and two cats.
