Deeply honest writing advice

5 lessons I wish I knew when I started writing

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I’ve only been writing for eight months, but I already had a lot of great things happen to me because of writing.

For one, I've met many writers from around the world. Some are based in Asian countries like me, while others travel as nomads. Some I get to interact with on Substack, while others I already consider as lifelong friends.

It has also been interesting to see the micro-transformations that happen to me after publishing each essay. Through writing, I learned to understand difficult emotions, like my guilt around spending money and my fear of asking for things I didn’t deserve.

Some opportunities still feel unreal to this day. I never imagined being able to connect with Noah Kagan, an entrepreneur and author I admire. But because I wrote about his book, it happened. And I still think it’s pretty cool.

But like most people, writing wasn’t easy when I started.

I used to stare at a blank page, not knowing what to write. I’d write drafts that I eventually deleted because they weren’t “good enough.” I even thought of quitting because writing felt incredibly hard to do.

But now, after writing 27 essays in a span of 8 months, I’ve come to understand my craft a lot better. And writing has never felt more fulfilling to me.

In this week’s post, I’m sharing five pieces of honest writing advice I wish I knew when I started:

Choose a topic that excites you.

Excitement is a great compass for writing.

If you write about something you enjoy, it will show on the page. Do the opposite, and your readers will sense your disinterest. As

Samuele Onelia

puts it, it’s hard to fake excitement.

It’s also good to give yourself something to look forward to when writing. The craft of writing is already hard, so don't make it any harder for yourself.

If you give yourself enough incentives to write, you’ll naturally stay consistent because it feels good and you get something out of it.

This is why my past essays have all been about intentional living (my favorites so far are this and this). I always think about how I can live a life aligned with my core values, so topics revolving around this are easier and much more fun to write.

Be quick to write a first draft.

The first draft is special because it’s the only part of writing where you gain an advantage by allowing yourself to suck.

I used to hate writing the first draft. I’d spend three to four days on it because I couldn’t accept anything less than good writing. I’d get stuck on clunky sentences, delete poorly written paragraphs, and even change topics midway because I felt my writing wasn't good enough.

Looking back, this probably caused 80% of my struggles early on. But now, I learned that all great writers start with a crummy first draft. And at this stage, all I really have to do is pour myself onto the page and let my ideas flow.

I cannot emphasize enough how important this is to learn. This quote from John McPhee probably describes it best: “Until a first draft exists, the act of writing has not really begun.”

Don’t write threes. Write layups.

When Stephen Curry became popular, every basketball player started taking more three-point shots.

The appeal behind it is simple: shooting threes makes you cool because they're worth more points than any other shot in basketball.

I've been playing basketball since I was 12, and back then, layups were the priority because they're much easier to make. But that’s not the case anymore.

Even non-shooters like me became more attracted to the three-point shot. In pickup games, I stopped wanting to shoot layups; I wanted to take threes. But because it's a shot I haven't practiced enough, I end up missing almost every shot I take. My team has lost several games because of it.

I used to take the same approach when I started writing. I wanted to become popular and gain tons of subscribers, so I wanted every essay to be a masterpiece. I'd write 3,000 words on a very broad topic that required hours and hours of research. But because writing the essay was difficult, I’d end up not publishing the piece.

Just like in basketball, you lose games when you stick to something you haven't practiced enough. In my case, I’m usually better off when I focus on essays that are easier to write.

By this, I mean:

• Writing only 1,000 words instead of 3,000

• Focusing on one specific topic instead of a broad idea

• Doing zero research and relying instead on what I know by heart

In the early days, it’s much more important to write layups—to write essays that you can publish within a week or two. After all, threes aren’t worth anything if you don’t make the shot.

Don’t get caught up with being a writer.

Today, I call myself a writer, but when I sit down to write, I try not to see myself that way.

I know it may sound strange, but I find it necessary to do.

Whenever I view myself as a writer, the act of writing becomes difficult. There's a certain standard that comes with associating myself with that title.

I think of it as putting myself in the same league as legendary writers like Stephen King or Paul Graham. I know I'm nowhere near as good as those guys, and whenever I think about that, the impostor syndrome kicks in.

I start to doubt my ideas, my words, and whether anyone would even want to read what I write. I become overly critical of everything I put on the page.

But when I remind myself that I'm simply sharing my stories and ideas, writing becomes easier and the words start to flow again.

A reminder I always tell myself is that I don’t need to write like a prolific writer. I only need to write like myself—to write the way I write.

Feed your writing.

When I struggle to write, it’s usually a sign that I haven’t spent enough time thinking or reading.

I always find it to be a good reminder. Things that aren’t fed go hungry, and this truth applies to writing.

These days, I try to read more books and essays. I read nonfiction during the day and immerse myself in fiction when I head into bed. It’s been helping ideas come more easily.

I also avoid Twitter and spend less time on Facebook. I need to be picky about what I consume because it influences how I think. The quality of my writing is only downstream from the quality of what I read.

Thank you to

Becky Isjwara

and

Wyndo

for making this piece more fulfilling to write.

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🎧 My 1st mini-podcast episode

I thought it would be fun to try adding a voice note at the end of this essay.

It’s my first time doing this and I’m not really sure how it turned out, so do let me know what you think by leaving a comment or sending me an email reply.

In this episode, I share a deep dive on the billion dollar question (see below), the story of how I started writing, and why I’m still writing despite all the struggle.

🌟 Find your next life path

If you're curious about how you can live your best life, I'm offering a free discovery call until May 31, 2024. Together, we can find your core values, explore new options for work and life, and create opportunities to build a life that you love.

Not yet ready for a call? Send a reply to this email or message me on Substack and we’ll figure something out together.

💭 Quote I’m Thinking About

Poet and art critic Charles Baudelaire on how to cultivate great ideas:

"Inspiration is merely the reward for working every day."

❓ Question I’m Asking

The billion dollar question:

What could you not pay me $1 billion to stop doing forever?

📝 Let Me Know