Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

ere my writing was going wrong.I’d always been self-conscious after my years of social anxiety, and it was bleeding through into my writing.I was writing well technically, with solid facts supported by solid science, but something was missing. I was playing it safe. I was leaving out the bits that might make me look a bit weird.The important bits.Important because it’s not just me who does those weird things. They’re part of being human. And humans want to read writing by other humans, not by machines. Real humans. Real, weird humans.But it gets even better.By allowing myself to open up in writing, it was like dipping my toe into the water and letting the weirdness show. When it turned out it was safe after all, I was able to do it more in real life. That’s very freeing. People like that. It’s part of being human.None of us are perfect and we’re all a little bit messy and weird at times. We can be gentle with ourselves for being so, and we can put it out there into the world for all to see in our writing if we want to. We should.It’s the best bit.<a href="">Alexander M. Combstrong </a>is an actor, screenwriter and film producer writing under a pen name mostly in mental health, personal growth and psychology.The tweet:<figure id="80ef"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*[email protected]"><figcaption>Screenshot of the tweet by the author/Courtesy of Twitter</figcaption></figure>Related reads from this writer:<div id="8870" class="link-block"> <a href="https://link.medium.com/KjgpQOMPTab"> <div> <div>

Options

<h2>A 3-Word Perspective Switch for Greater Self-Compassion</h2>
            <div><h3>Maybe these thoughts sound familiar: "I feel really nervous. I shouldn't be so nervous." "I really messed up. I can't do…</h3></div>
            <div><p>link.medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*SuTkfQDvTHfiF5W2.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="b6f3" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://link.medium.com/4kCKwRQPTab">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>How to Use Artfully Vague Language to Inspire Your Readers</h2>
            <div><h3>As a screenwriter, I'm very used to writing visually. Aside from dialogue, almost every word is there to become a…</h3></div>
            <div><p>link.medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*Q-h3-lSKbGKBQttN.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="dfdd" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://link.medium.com/7YJpJBVPTab">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>How to Make Money by Writing Any Old Sh*t</h2>
            <div><h3>Well hello, and welcome to How to Make Money by Writing any old sh*t. Brought to you by a writer who still writes any…</h3></div>
            <div><p>link.medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*izqv6dndRvdN58OK)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div></article></body>

This One Tweet From an Author Turned Me Into a $1000/Month Part-Time Blogger

My writing improved and the knock-on effect led to improvements beyond just that. That’s what good writing can do.

I’m currently reading a book by British author Tom Cox. It’s a non-fiction book about him walking around the countryside doing not a lot. Despite nothing really happening, it’s fascinating and hilarious. That’s what you can do as a good writer.

The other thing you can do as a good writer, it seems, is to pack so much value into one tweet that it can genuinely affect someone else’s life. More than just mine, most likely.

I read it and something clicked. My path ahead became clear.

I followed the path, and readers followed me. Posts went viral. Writing earnings shot up to over a thousand dollars a month, and I only write part-time. I’m a better writer since that tweet. I’ll be forever grateful to Mr Cox.

The tweet said:

“One thing I’ve never thought after listening to a great album or reading a great book or seeing a great piece of art is, “I’m really glad this person remained cautious and made sure they weren’t perceived as weird.” – Tom Cox

That’s it. A simple truth that gets to the heart of where my writing was going wrong.

I’d always been self-conscious after my years of social anxiety, and it was bleeding through into my writing.

I was writing well technically, with solid facts supported by solid science, but something was missing. I was playing it safe. I was leaving out the bits that might make me look a bit weird.

The important bits.

Important because it’s not just me who does those weird things. They’re part of being human. And humans want to read writing by other humans, not by machines. Real humans. Real, weird humans.

But it gets even better.

By allowing myself to open up in writing, it was like dipping my toe into the water and letting the weirdness show. When it turned out it was safe after all, I was able to do it more in real life. That’s very freeing. People like that. It’s part of being human.

None of us are perfect and we’re all a little bit messy and weird at times. We can be gentle with ourselves for being so, and we can put it out there into the world for all to see in our writing if we want to. We should.

It’s the best bit.

Alexander M. Combstrong is an actor, screenwriter and film producer writing under a pen name mostly in mental health, personal growth and psychology.

The tweet:

A 3-Word Perspective Switch for Greater Self-Compassion

Maybe these thoughts sound familiar: "I feel really nervous. I shouldn't be so nervous." "I really messed up. I can't do…

link.medium.com

How to Use Artfully Vague Language to Inspire Your Readers

As a screenwriter, I'm very used to writing visually. Aside from dialogue, almost every word is there to become a…

link.medium.com

How to Make Money by Writing Any Old Sh*t

Well hello, and welcome to How to Make Money by Writing any old sh*t. Brought to you by a writer who still writes any…

link.medium.com