How to Build a Regular Writing Practice
Six tips to get yourself going
Something I’m Learning
Recently, I’ve heard from a couple of folks about how to build a practice of writing. I’ve been sharing a LinkedIn article I wrote several years ago, so for anyone else that’s interested, here’s a slightly updated version of that piece.
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A few months ago, an old friend who manages a renowned social enterprise, reached out with a question. "I often struggle to write in between my work projects. I get caught up in operations rather than taking time to spread the word about what we're doing. Do you have any best practices/tips to cultivate a practice of writing?"
First things first, I'm talking about "professional writing", by which I mean writing that shares your thoughts and ideas with your professional circles. It's meant to demonstrate thought leadership, and/or extend your organization's brand. For more personal writing, like a blog about your life or travels, the same rules still generally apply but will be used differently.
So here they are - 6 tips for how anyone can cultivate a regular practice of writing.
1. Read a Lot
Pretty much all writing advice out there begins with reading. And reading widely, both fiction and non-fiction, books and long-form magazine articles, blogs, newsletters by people in your field, and so on. So, do you read a lot? If not, that's where to start.
2. Write as much as you can
The only way to get better at writing is to write. I know, it's rocket science. So the MOST important thing in building a writing practice is to just start writing. Write even when you don't feel like writing. As Steven Pressfield wrote in The Artist's Journey, one of my all-time favorite books,
Put your ass where your heart wants to be.
The great secret that every artist and mystic knows is that the profound can be reached best by concentrating upon the mundane.
Do you want to write? Sit down at the keyboard.
Wanna paint? Stand before an easel…
Want the goddess to show up for you? Show up for her.
Many writers over the centuries have sworn they didn't know what they would write until they began, that writing is a form of thinking.
Sit down and write whatever comes to mind. Then shape it into an article/essay/blog post. Send it to some trusted people, even if they're not writers, for feedback. Ask them what works and what could be better. You'll soon reach the stage where you instinctively know what's ready to be published, or what needs another pair of eyes to review first.
3. Find your own 'voice'.
It's not just 'what' you say but 'how' you say it. You can write things others have already written (much as I'm doing here; none of this advice is invented) but it's perfectly acceptable to do so in your own unique way. Write like you speak, as much as possible. Don't be afraid to be informal. Or be serious and funny in the same piece. Or keep it very simple (see the quote below). Most of all, under no circumstances should you write like we were taught to write in school. The more academically prestigious your university, the more you need to avoid this trap. As you write more, your writing 'voice' will crystallize on its own.
4. Writing is re-writing
The first draft is the easy part. The work really begins in the second draft, so make sure you allocate enough a) time, b) energy, and c) motivation for that part.
5. The Only Way to Do it is to Do it
A beautiful cliche but totally true. My friend also wanted to know, "how do you manage to carve out time from your schedule to write? I find myself bogged down by day-to-day tasks and not able to dedicate the time or concentrate, as I have a million other things on my mind."
Personally, I usually write on weekends or airplanes, when I can free up the most time or am away from internet distractions. And then I carve out time for editing in the evenings after work. I know this is easier said than done, but you just have to prioritize it, i.e., organize your schedule around it. I don't know of a silver bullet otherwise.
6. Publish, already!
Most importantly, once you have written something, put it out there. This can be the most difficult part for some people. But you must commit to posting it somewhere (Substack makes it so easy. But if you’re not ready to have a blog, then just posting on LinkedIn is a good way to start). Without that, there's no real benefit in professional writing.
Something to Consider
There is a lot of writing advice out there. Here’s some that’s different from mine. Bad Writing Advice: 21 Terrible Tips You Should Ignore
Something to Quote
The mark of a charlatan is to explain simple things in complicated ways. The mark of a genius to explain complicated things in simple ways.
- Naval Ravikant