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11 Things I Wish I’d Known About Writing 20 Years Ago (With a Nod to Mark Manson)
These are all things I’m taking with me into 2025
Recently, Medium sent me a list of the most read and most shared articles in 2024. I started getting Mark Manson’s newsletter a little while ago, but I was intrigued by his 40 Life Lessons — the ones he wishes he knew at 20. (What 20-year-old ever listens to old people? But I digress…)
Most of his list are about life, living better, knowing yourself better, facing up to what’s not working. And I could see how some of them chimed with things I have learned about writing. Learned by doing, rather than reading. But anyway, here goes.
1. Motivation comes by taking action
Procrastination is so easy, because there are always other things to do, even cleaning the fridge. Motivation can come in bursts, but it doesn’t last. Try looking at it from the other end. Write. The more you write, and see the words pile up, the more motivated you will become.
2. Taking action is the best way I know to deal with depression
This one came from a guy I did a personal coaching course with. When I asked him how to deal with depression, he scratched his head and thought about it and said, “Get up and do something. Even if…
