The Untold Story of a Writer
By: Huzaifa Khan
Tags: Writer, Writers On Writing, Self Improvement, Beginners Guide, Writers Life

The Untold Story of a Writer

You must have heard about the untold story of a Dracula. But you might not have heard about the untold story of a writer.

And If you are a beginner and want to write but do not know where to start from, then you are not the only one. Because every writer passes through the same situation when starts writing. Many of the people end by giving up, just because of the fear.

Yes, I am talking about the fear of writing. Because I have seen people who are comfortable with public speaking but are afraid of writing. And every person who starts writing is afraid of the thought that what people will say about it, will it look professional or can I even write.

So ease yourself, because it is not just the case with the beginners, but also with the professionals. The difference is that the professionals know the formula of how to overturn the fear in their favor, which they also freely tell to the others that, just start writing.

Because the best thing to overcome fear is to go against it and do the things that inhibit you from growing and improving. And you won’t fear it anymore the way you are afraid of it now.

This is because our brain works in a pattern and takes fear as a danger to the physical health. So we start procrastinating it and act lazy. But the truth is that we doubt ourselves, that leads to the fear. But not everything we fear is harmful. Sometimes it’s just the hurdle we need to pass in order to achieve something greater.

Problems that every writer faces

Don’t know where to start

The first question that every writer as a beginner asks is “where I should start from?”. Although, you might have written a dozens of articles and essays for your academic purpose. But when comes to write yourself you feel blank. Although you want to write and make your life better.

The reason is self-doubt, that you doubt yourself and your skills without even trying them. This self-doubt connects you to the fear of criticism. And there is nothing to worry about it, because its a natural instinct.

Now the question arises that how to overcome fear of criticism. To overcome it first you need to be clear about it. Criticism is one of the major factor that helps you to improve. It comes from sharing your work with others. Have you heard of any Scientist or an artist becoming popular or well-known without sharing their work? Or do they become popular overnight?

So this is what they do, they keep practicing and experimenting in their respective fields. Same goes for the Writers.

You can’t become a good writer until you write and take criticism to improve yourself. So just start writing.

Skipping the Research

If you have gathered the strength to start writing and have selected the suitable topic for yourself. Then just don’t bluntly start writing. Do some research, do some brainstorming. Outline your headings and subheadings, the main points that you are going to discuss in your paragraphs.

Most of the beginners skip the research part and get stuck in the middle or at some point and as a result, they again start fearing and having negative thoughts about their capabilities. So make sure that you don’t this.

Free yourself

You should start with free writing. Free writing is a time-bound practice in which you pour out all your thoughts on a certain topic. Regardless of thought of doubt about your ideas, typos, and grammatical mistakes.

And when you are done with it, then conversationally mend your thoughts. As you are directly speaking to your readers.

The purpose of the free writing is to be free and permit yourself to write whatever you want. Even if you have zero confidence and command over the topic.

Imperfect perfections

If you are waiting to become the perfect writer before you even start writing by reading 1000 articles, then you will never be. Because no one is perfect. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.

One more thing that most beginners do is the continuous revision. To make their writing perfect. Revision is a great practice, but you can’t revise it to be the most perfect piece of writing in the world.

There are many writers, who didn’t even know that their work was going to get fame. And If they had done it to be popular or viral. Then their work might never be embraced.

So stop being a perfectionist and start writing constructively. And one day you might even not know that you have become a great writer. To whom a great number of people look as their mentor.

Spend more time creating than consuming

Reading is a habit of intellectual people. And if you are a writer than its great for both you and your content. But when you start writing you should keep it one step ahead of reading, means you should be writing more than you read.

It will not only help you to create good content but also make you think ideas with your mind, and picking up from the other’s content.

By keeping this habit you will surely excel not only as a creative writer but also as a good thinker.

Constructive Criticism

Criticism will play one of the most important roles in your journey as a writer. Because it will not only improve your writing but also your observation. Criticism is the only way you will come to know about your mistakes and their possible solutions.

We usually take criticism as a negative factor due to which we restrain ourselves and lead to self-doubt. In reality, it is completely the opposite. So let people judge you and your imperfections.

Ask people for help

Be friends with people who are good are writing, learn from them, and ask for help. Don’t be shy because people love talking about themselves and their work. Knowledge grows when you share it with others.

You cannot improve by sitting alone in a room and not sharing and discussing your work with others. Especially when you are in a learning phase.

Advice

Trust me, If people are criticizing you. It means you are improving and have become worthwhile of their time that they are reading your work and criticizing it.