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9 Things No One Tells You About Being A Writer

If you want to change the world, pick a pen and start writing. But no one reveals the behind-the-scenes story.


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Yousuf Rafi

3 years ago | 4 min read

"Hey, Yousuf!

I am new to content writing.

How can I make a lot of money?

Where should I start?"

"Hey, Yousuf!

I've read your posts; they're amazing.

You might be earning a lot.

How can I earn?"

"Hi Yousuf!

I have been writing for 4 months.

How can I earn money fast?"

These are typical messages which I receive daily in my inbox. Whatever the start, the ending goes like, “how can I earn tons of money with writing?”

Now, before you start your journey as a writer or copywriter, there are some things that you must know. Mostly, people consider content writing as an easy job. But in reality, it is as hard as any other profession.

1. You Need To Put In A Lot Of Hours

We've all heard about Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hours. If you want to succeed in something, invest some intensive hours in it.

If you start from scratch or even switch from another field to content writing, you must put in those hours & improve your craft.

Your present investment will build a powerful future.

Success in writing demands hard work, long hours, tons of frustration & supreme patience.

Don't be afraid to put in many hours. You are doing it for a better future.

“Work and you’ll get what you need; work harder and you’ll get what you want.” ~Prabakaran Thirumalai

2. Prepare Yourself For Endless Rejections

Even after four years of writing, I get rejected often. But over the years, I’ve learned that failure and rejections are part of the process.

If you're not being rejected, it means you're doing something wrong.

In his biography - Stephen King on Writing mentions sticking rejection notes with a paper pin on a board, and mostly due to the weight of those slips, the bunch would fall.

So, whether you are new or have some experience with writing, you cannot skip rejections.

Take those rejections and learn from them. Every failure will teach you something valuable about yourself.

“The effects of rejection can either kill your muse or change your life.” ~Jane Champagne

3. You'll Earn Tons Of Money Starting From Day One - Seriously?

That's the most ridiculous statement I get from new writers.

Working hard will not shower money from day one.

Someone sold you a ridiculous story.

When I started writing, my core focus was learning the tools, tricks, and insights about writing.

And that's what you need to focus on. Work on your craft. Don't focus on earning a lot. Be happy with whatever you get. Once you've invested in your writing, money will flow like a river.

Remember, every overnight success comprises hours of hard work, years of practice, and unimaginable sacrifices.

4. You Cannot Write If You're Not Reading

Those who don't read should switch to another profession.

Reading is not a choice if you are pursuing writing as a field; it's compulsory. So get it into your head. Read more to write more.

Reading helps you improve sentence structuring, create flow, engage the reader, and helps you analyze what is working for your audience.

I don't care if you don't have time. Eliminate Netflix, eat faster, instead of driving yourself, take a cab, sleep late, wake early and invest all those extra hours in reading.

To improve your writing, read a lot.

“You learn best by reading a lot and writing a lot, and the most valuable lessons of all are the ones you teach yourself.” ~Stephen King

5. Writing Is Tiring

People consider writing an easy job.

But you know what? Writing will drain your mental energy faster than any other profession. As a result, you'll get depressed, motivated and sometimes, you'll even wish to quit.

But if you love writing, your hard work will pay off. Surely, your mind will stop working after a long workday, and that's fine.

A writer cannot work more than 6-7 hours straight. And that too after taking some breaks.

Only a writer understands how much writing consumes your brain. You'll be tired, agitated, and even feel like not talking to anyone. That's part of a writer's life.

6. Journaling Helps Bigtime

Writing a journal will empty your mind. When a writer jots down his feelings, observations, and perceptions about the world this gives them more ideas and material to write.

Buy a journal or get an app, and let your thoughts flow freely on those pages.

For a writer, journaling is his way to turn those vague ideas into something meaningful.

Every day write headlines, observe people's behavior, write quotes from your favorite authors, and jot down ideas for your next blog post.

And if you have the so-called writer's block, read this post and get rid of it.

7. The Goal Is To Move Your Readers Emotionally

Writing is like playing a game of chess. You lay down the board and take turns. Every turn is connected. You might not realize it, but every sentence you write leaves an impact on the reader.

When you proofread your writing, ensure that you eliminate the sentences that don't add value to the reader.

Use short sentences to leave a big impact. Ensure that your goal is to engage the reader. Keep your sentences simple.

Share personal stories to which readers can easily relate. Leave the readers in a better state than you found them.

8. Keep It Simple

Anyone can grab a dictionary and use those complex words in their blog post, but it takes years of practice to express your ideas in the most simple manner.

“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”~ Mark Twain

People assume that simple writing is easy. Well, they are wrong. So make an aim to simplify your writing as much as you can.

Eliminate complex words and use the Hemingway app to simplify your writing.

9. The Whole Universe Is Your Teacher

That’s true. As a writer, learning never stops. Observe things closely. When you start seeing the world from a beginner's mind, it will allow you to learn from everything around you.

You’ll run out of ideas. Instead, turn those everyday routines into compelling stories. Listen to people around you. Select problems and give people the solution to those problems.

No one will tell you what to write. If you want to grow as a writer, you need to learn the art of observing things, wrap those things around storytelling, metaphors and share it with those who will love to read about it.

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Yousuf Rafi

A Caffeine dependent writer who loves writing on self-help, life, happiness & motivation.


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