What I Wish I’d Known Sooner in My Writing Journey
Key takeaways for navigating beginner’s chaos
A new writer’s mind is a fidgeting compass.
It gets pulled in all directions by self-doubt, unanswered questions, and the rush to find external validation.
In turn, they feel lost and weary.
As a beginner, I too struggled to keep up with the confusion.
I’d spend days feeling guilty about not learning faster, not doing as well as others, and not implementing every piece of advice.
But, I didn’t want to give up. I never will.
Writing allows me to share my stories with you and help you overcome the challenges I faced. And it’s worth overcoming any turmoil.
So, here are 3 things you need to know if you want to navigate the beginner’s chaos.
# Strong writing comes from a strong purpose.
You procrastinate because you don’t have a mission.
You don’t have a mission because you don’t write more.
See the deadlock?
Maintaining discipline will always be challenging if you don’t know why you publish the next post.
Without discipline, your goals are at the mercy of fluctuating views and readership.
But, that’s the thing.
In the beginning, it’s natural to lack clarity. You don’t know your target audience, your reasons for writing to them, or the support you can offer.
My advice?
Dive right into that confusion.
Start with the topics you read and talk about the most.
Imagine you’re writing for yourself in college, or exploring tough experiences that have shaped who you are today.
- What struggles did you face?
- What helped you cope with them?
- How did you view the world then vs now?
- How did past challenges impact your beliefs?
Experiment, share, and learn from your attempts.
Whatever it is, do not stop publishing.
Each article contributes to creating your purpose.
They help improve your vision as a writer. And it shows in the growing strength of your voice in your work.
Now, isn’t that amazing!?
# Take inspiration but build your own writing routine.
I am not a morning person.
I used to feel terrible for not waking up early to write, as many online sources recommend. Or for not dedicating 10 hours daily.
But, here’s what I realised:
Focused work is more important than the time of day. Or the number of hours you put in.
Instead of trying to fit someone else’s schedule into your life, create one that aligns with your needs and rhythms. Build a routine that supports your mental health and creativity.
Trust me, you’re not missing out on any magic by not following others’ timelines.
Manage distractions. Do 4 hours of deep work at the time best suited to you. Set aside a day or two to expand your existing skill set. And implement what you learn in your next post.
This will not only save you the stress. But, it will help you become consistent.
The key is to find what works for you and grow from there.
# Make research a part of the writing process
Have you ever struggled to write more than a paragraph on a topic?
And pushed your chair away in frustration.
Or shut your laptop down.
Well, it’s a common beginner’s illusion that the excitement alone will fill the pages.
When that illusion breaks, do not quit.
Instead, spend time understanding more about the article you want to write.
What does that mean?
- Explore the topic in depth.
- Identify the message you want to convey.
- Connect your insights with the knowledge you’ve gathered.
Yes, there will be an initial resistance– our minds dislike not knowing and dread effort. (How ironic, right?)
But, if you want to provide value and enjoy the process, make research a part of your writing process.
Don’t rush to hit publish. Take time to gather your thoughts. Time-box the research–give it an hour or two so your main article stays on track.
By doing this, you’ll find yourself procrastinating less and having more insights to share.
So, there you go.
These are the things I wish I had known sooner in my writing journey. They would have saved me many sleepless nights and unproductive hours.
Now, I would like to hear from you.
Which of these lessons resonates the most with you?
Let me know in the comments.
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