Who Cares If You’re Good At Writing

Being good at your craft is just the beginning.

I want you to stand up. Do it right now. OK, now give yourself a great big pat on the back. Does that feel good? Does congratulating yourself for being good at what you do make you feel better? Great, now that’s over and the real work begins. You ready?

Hope you enjoyed that pat on the back because no one else is giving you anything. The harsh but honest reality is that no one cares that you’re a good writer. No one even cares if you’re a great writer. But if you want to achieve something meaningful in your career, your job is to make them care. That’s life in 2018.

I can list ten writers who are just as good as me that no one has ever heard of. Ten writers who are happy to remain nameless and are content to continue writing for their own pleasure. I love these writers and appreciate the fact that writing for them isn’t about reaching other people. It’s much more personal and therapeutic.

I’m not that kind of writer. And if you’re posting any of your writing to Medium, or if you’re writing novels or posting articles to any other platform, you aren’t that kind of writer either. You want people to read what you’re saying and hear the messages you’re trying to communicate through written word.

Other People’s Opinions Matter

The first step is to admit this. Stand up again and say it to yourself. “Other people's opinions matter.” Say it loud. Own that statement. Once you stop tap dancing around this fact, you’ll become free. Free to accept that the words you’re writing have purpose beyond being personal. You want to move people, inspire them, educate or motivate them to action. If you can’t admit you care, then stop posting your work. Stop making it public. See what that feels like. If it sucks, then get over your fears and get in the game.

How Far Do You Want to Take This Thing?

OK, so you’ve gotten through the easy part. Now it’s time to get other people to care just as much as you do. Because that’s the goal, right? Remember you’re writing for a reason. You’re putting words into the universe for a reason. You want people to read them and feel…something.

Well if you want someone else to feel something, you better feel something your damn self. The stuff you’re writing better mean something to you. It better be coming from a real place, be well researched or genuinely experienced. It better be filled with imagination and driven by authentic curiosity. If what you’re saying isn’t burning to come out, leave it in.

Execute First, Plan Second — In that Order

When I started writing my first book, I had no idea what I wanted to write about. None at all. But I didn’t let that stop me. I started writing about my life knowing that’s not the story I wanted to tell. What getting started did, however, was get me started.

Getting started quickly means I was able to get feedback. Getting feedback meant I was able to improve at a faster pace. Going through the process of writing, even without clear direction, made me a much better writer and storyteller. Then magic eventually happened and that unfiltered, unfocused, chaotic story became the foundation for Thoughts of a Fractured Soul, my debut novella.

Now because I’ve gone through the process, I’m better able to plan things out. I know what kind of environment I need to write well. I know what steps I need to take to get my story out and make it sing. Preparation has taken my writing to the next level, but executing first has gotten me here.

The way I look at it, great writers are everywhere. I don’t assume my writing is distinctly better than anyone else's. Yes, I’m confident in my abilities, but I’m not the one who needs convincing. The goal is to show the world that my stories should be heard. Until that’s the case, then being great makes no difference.

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