- Noah Cracknell
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- Lessons From Writing
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DALL-E
I'm a full-time student, a part-time employee, and a broke writer.
When I go back and read some of the articles I wrote three years ago, I cringe. But perhaps three years from now, I'll cringe at this piece too. At least, I hope I do; that would mean I improved!
Anytime I sit down to write, one of two things happen: I stare blankly at my computer screen, searching for the right words to describe my thoughts, or I start typing. The former occurs more often, but I usually win the staring contest after some time.
The process of translating my thoughts, opinions, feelings, and emotions into a hopefully enjoyable narrative for all of you to read is the hardest thing I've ever done. It requires deep thought, reflection, and the surfacing of unpleasant emotions at times. But it's all a part of the journey.
In today's newsletter, I'm reflecting on the last three years of writing by sharing eight lessons writing has taught me. Enjoy😀
Nothing is given
If you want to write about something, you must understand the topic. Being conversational won't fly. From this lens, writing is the greatest validator of knowledge and experience because it becomes crystal clear if someone is full of baloney.
This is not to say that my writing is perfect. I'm closer to a third-grader in skill than I am to Mark Twain. But I recognize that writing about a topic is a true testament to one's knowledge. And I'm getting my reps in, so that counts for something.
When you write, nothing is given; everything is earned.
Great writers do all three
Good writers inform, entertain, or invoke an emotional response in the reader.
But as Jack Raines points out, great writers do all three ⬇️
Good writing informs, entertains, or incites an emotional response.
Great writing does all three.
— Jack Raines (@Jack_Raines)
6:15 PM • Feb 7, 2023
People gravitate to narrative
The greatest pieces of writing tell a story. And according to Rahul Rana, stories are how humans make sense of the world.
"Humans need narratives to make sense of things. Stories help us understand what to do, what everyone else is doing, and how to do it. They ask, what is possible? What needs to be done? What Can You Do For Your Country? They are motivational, guiding, and inspiring. They are pure magic. They make the pursuit of the impossible attractive and attainable."
People naturally gravitate towards narrative; it's in our DNA. BTW, if you haven't checked out this piece on the importance of storytelling, I highly recommend it.
Capturing attention is a bottomless pit
I used to write all my articles on Medium. For the most part, my goal was to capture the attention of my readers. If I could make a reader spend more time on my article, I would get paid more (that's how the Medium algorithm works).
This was great initially – I even made $400 in one month, all from writing. But after a year or so, I began to burn out. It felt like I wasn't connecting with my readers but speaking over them. I've found that headline writing, or writing to capture the reader's attention and not deliver any real value, is a bottomless pit. This is why I started The Daily Preneur and why I'm learning the art of storytelling 😀
My recipe for great writing
When I transitioned to writing for The Daily Preneur, I knew I needed to dive deeper than ever. After all, great writing requires great effort.
So, after a few weeks of trying different styles, I nailed down a framework. I call it the Three T's: anytime I publish an article, my goal is to be truthful, transparent, and timeless.
Truthful because my intention is not to cause confusion, outrage, or division (as mainstream media does). Transparent because the greatest strength you can show as a person is vulnerability. And timeless because great stories transcend time.
Your content engine matters
Whenever I'm in a writing slump, I always run an audit on the last time I've read something physical; a book, newspaper, or journal. Not surprisingly, the more I read, the better I write.
If you're not a writer, this lesson remains true for anyone: higher-quality inputs lead to better outputs. Notice how I didn't say, "the more inputs you have, the better." The goal isn't quantity; it's quality.
Design a Content Engine
Your “content engine” is everything you consume regularly—books, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, etc.
These are the inputs that feed your output machine.
The insights from the content you consume spark the ideas for the content you produce.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom)
12:12 PM • Mar 23, 2022
Exercise helps
At this point, it's ridiculous how potent exercise is. Exercise can help you sleep better, look good, and write killer articles. It's a total bargain: a little upfront effort for a more enjoyable life. You can't beat it.
Let go of being perfect
I've shifted how I define success as a writer. I used to think success was reaching a certain number of subscribers or getting a million followers on Twitter. Granted, those things are awesome, and I'm still striving for both, but they're not good metrics for measuring success.
True success means showing up and publishing weekly, which I've done since November 2021. David Perrel, aka 'The Writing Guy' on Twitter, sums it up well ⬇️
"Writing is similar. In an ideal world, you only write when you're filled with the creative spirit. The problem is that when most writers say: "I'm not going to write today because I'm not feeling it," they are really running away from some kind of fear. Maybe it's a fear of judgment. Or maybe, it's a fear of realizing that first drafts are never as perfect as the image in your mind. But writing every day and committing to a regular publishing schedule forces you to silence your inner critic and transcend the hurdles of self-doubt."
The biggest inhibitor to success is self-doubt. And there is plenty of that when you write. The goal isn't to be perfect but to grow and ship your work each week.
Whether you're a writer or not, I hope you were able to learn something. And if you're considering starting a blog or newsletter or sharing your writing online in another form, I can't recommend it enough. It's incredibly challenging, rewarding, and fulfilling.
Keep crushing.
Cheers,
Noah Cracknell
P.S. Send me an email and let me know where you are in the world! I'd love to hear from you.
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