Three take-away’s from a blog writing workshop which can set you apart from beginners!
Have you always wonder why there are few readers of your blogs despite of you putting so much ink, sweat and soul into your articles?
Then some professional help can make a difference.
Whether you are a novice or an experienced writer, there could be some blind spots which might be going unnoticed. As it is difficult to find bias in your own thoughts.
This is where a writing workshop with a seasoned writing coach can come to rescue. Participating in workshop not only helps to know the fundamental principles of good writing but ensures you have a method to find your own flaws.
1. Writing for self is a good starting point but has limitations
One of the most fundamental question you can ask before start writing is “who are you writing for?”. Broadly the answer to this can be classified as writing for self or writing for someone else.
Writing for self can have its own benefits, as it provides you a platform to reflect and in doing so possibly becomes a medium of self-healing. This is always a good starting point, as you learn to listen to your heart in the process. And pick a stand for yourself while expressing opinions and gain confidence to present different perspectives.
Yet, if you intend to take your message to others, defining who these “others” are can take you far in the writing journey. This is what gives a clear purpose to your writing and improve the reach of your ideas to the wider audience. This compels you to slip into the shoes of the audience, think what answers they are looking for and what you can write uniquely to help them.
As an example, you may be enjoying this article so far as it is written for audience like you, who are budding writers and wish to improve their skills. Would you have clicked this with same curiosity if the heading was “My reflections on writing better?” The answer could be yes, only if this was written by a famous writer himself like Ruskin Bond. The message is you must reach to a point in your career before people become interested in your personal diaries.
2. Editing differentiates men from the boys
One reason why many people over-estimate their writing skills is to become attached to what is written in a first draft. The first draft is also known as emotional vomit in professional writers’ circles, as it comes out straight from the heart or the right side of the brain. But the fact is, in most cases it lacks the flow, inclusiveness and readability for readers.
Let’s talk about flow first, as in most cases the first draft is written in a stream of consciousness. This is like making notes of your random thoughts in no specific order. When you re-look at those notes, simply changing the order of those notes can make a huge difference in the quality of flow.
One other area where editing helps is making the article complete and inclusive. This can be done by looking at the draft from many angles. One is by thinking yourself what is missing . This could be a daunting exercise, so the other best option is to do research or talk to people who may provide inputs to get an outside perspective. This will enrich the experience of the reader and give him, or her value of time invested in reading your art.
Last but not the least, as a writer you should be able to take the ownership to make the article as readable for your audience as possible. Most of the new writers find a great deal of resistance in putting the required efforts for editing. No doubt you will evolve as writer with experience but there are many proven principles which could be learned without going the path alone.
3. You don’t have to hold your breath while hitting the publish button
This takes us to the final climax moment of publishing your art, your creation, your ideas, with the larger world. How do you ensure that all the factors, which will decide whether it’s a successful attempt or an unnoticed one, are incorporated?
As you would learn many things over time and may not be feasible to remember everything. One way is to create your own checklist of things you want to take care each time. You can quickly scan through the list and then hit the publish button with a complete peace of mind.
And remember your ownership ends with writing a good piece and then the ownership of finding the article lies with the reader😊 Oiling your cycle chain before a long ride always pays off and makes the ride much more enjoyable. With that, wish you happy writing!
If you are still curious to learn how you can apply these take-away’s in your specific context? Then you are encouraged to reach out to Himalaya writing retreat team. This is my independent review after attending the workshop and not in any way sponsored by them.
