How To Be A Better Writer

Following on from last week’s post and still feeling at a loss as to what to write about, I turned to a friend / mentor to ask for his input. I don’t think he will mind me sharing his answer:

I write what I want to read.

I want the links we send.

I've worked hardest on songs I like listening to again and again.

I do stuff teenager me would like. If he wouldn't, I don't bother.

So, to answer your question, I'd like to see you write about things you particularly enjoy.

Just do the push ups every day. Do not feel paralyzed by the desire to be good. Send what you like on time, for a very long time, and everything will grow. 

Simple, possibly even obvious. A perfect response.

I imagine it will not surprise you to learn that I have been thinking about how to become a better writer. For better or worse, I am not someone who does things simply for the joy of it. Be it photography, playing guitar or exercising, it is the process of improvement more than the activity itself that I often enjoy most. I don’t think I am particularly unique in this regard, and those of you of a similar disposition will be all too familiar with the frustration that follows when little progress is being made.

Until very recently, I would not say I have been actively trying to improve my writing. I read every day and, of course, I restarted this newsletter earlier this year. Beyond that, I have really just been sitting down and having a go.

You’ve likely heard of Malcolm Gladwell’s theory that accumulating 10,000 hours of practice is a pre-requisite for mastery. It’s an attractive theory and I am sure it has merit. There has, however, been a rebuttal of Gladwell’s assertion that 10,000 hours practice is all that is needed, with naysayers contesting that what we really need is “deliberate practice”—loosely defined as activities recommended by experts to develop specific abilities, identifying weaknesses and working to correct them, and intentionally pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone.

To that end, I am on the lookout for any creative writing courses or publications willing to take a punt on an absolute amateur who is willing to learn—if you know of any, please do let me know.

Somewhat tangentially, I also happened across a tweet from Paul Graham that, whilst not contradicting the 10,000 hours rule, certainly poses another important consideration as to what makes a good writer:

A company asked why it was so hard to hire a good writer. I told them it was because good writing is an illusion: what people call good writing is actually good thinking, and of course good thinkers are rare.

Food for thought, for me at least! As always, thank you for reading and see you next Sunday.