Embracing Change: Why Writing Every Day Might Hold You Back
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The Dangers of Rigidity in Writing
In the early stages of my writing journey, I was convinced that writing every single day was the key to my success. The common advice echoed throughout the writing community was to "write daily." I thought that dedicating long hours each morning to my craft would quickly lead to achievement.
I committed to this routine, even managing to publish one article daily for three months. While this initially boosted my presence on Medium, the results were still underwhelming. It became clear that mere consistency wasn't the secret to genuine progress.
The turning point in my writing career occurred when I recognized that real growth stems from small, daily improvements. Let's explore how to achieve this transformation.
Same Efforts Yield the Same Outcomes
“Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.” — Albert Einstein
Sticking to the same routine day after day can lead to stagnation. You may experience initial success, but eventually, you will hit a wall. This is a common phenomenon among writers.
Today's audience is accustomed to rapidly changing digital trends. They seek variety in the content they consume. If your writing lacks experimentation, you risk offering nothing new to your readers, resulting in stagnant views and a dwindling audience—a phenomenon I term "writer's saturation."
If this resonates with you, you might find yourself in a creative rut.
How to Break Free: - Diversify your reading list with unique books, essays, and articles. - Challenge your existing beliefs and venture into new ideas. - Experiment with different writing techniques and emulate the styles of writers you admire to enhance your uniqueness.
Evolving Your Writing Habits
Habits are not static; they should evolve as you do.
You don't simply adopt a habit and adhere to it indefinitely. It's essential to continually evaluate and adjust your habits to align with your aspirations.
For example, I once dedicated 30 minutes daily to crafting LinkedIn posts. This approach garnered significant engagement and even led to paid opportunities. However, when that routine became impractical, I adapted by batching my content instead.
Tips for Upgrading Your Habits: - Reflect on which habits are currently beneficial. - Discard habits that no longer yield results. - Group similar tasks to enhance efficiency. - Maintain a daily journal to track your progress over time.
Recognizing When to Advance
Over time, the stories that once earned you substantial income may start to yield minimal returns. LinkedIn posts that previously attracted thousands of views may dwindle to a few hundred.
When this happens, it's crucial to acknowledge that it's time to pivot. Embrace discomfort, explore new topics, and target different audience segments.
For instance, my most successful Medium articles from 2021 focused on journaling, travel, and writing enhancement. By 2022, I shifted my focus to book recommendations and productivity. In 2023, I delved into fitness and motivation.
Although my overarching theme remained self-improvement, I continuously refined my niche and writing style to stay competitive in a saturated market.
Strategies for Staying Relevant: - Discover intersections between related topics to offer fresh perspectives. - Explore adjacent themes, such as nutrition and mental wellness if you're writing about fitness. - Consider seemingly unrelated topics, like fashion or technology, to create unique content.
Conclusion
As a writer in the digital landscape, your most valuable asset is time. Use it judiciously. While consistency is important, substantial growth arises from adaptability and continuous self-improvement.
Be prepared to face challenges, but always remember that resilience is key. If you find yourself feeling stuck in your writing process, take a moment to reflect rather than write just for the sake of it.
Steps to Revitalize Your Writing: - Experiment with your writing style to broaden your audience. - Don't shy away from trying new methods, even if the outcome is uncertain. - Reassess your habits to conserve energy and stave off creative burnout. - Monitor your analytics and refine your content strategy for better engagement.
My father's wise words, “If you're going to do it, go all in,” have become my guiding principle. To succeed in online writing, commit wholeheartedly, share your authentic voice, and craft narratives that resonate deeply with your audience.
If you're aspiring to build a career as a freelance writer but don’t know where to start, check out my comprehensive 90-day guide to landing your first client.
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