A man and boy sit in an old house crowded with furniture, sunlight, and dust.
A guitar rests on the boy’s knee. Tiny fingers grip and pluck the strings. The man is nodding, rocking as the boy plays.
The man is Jack White — of The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather fame. The boy is his son. This scene is part of the documentary It Might Get Loud.
As Jack White teaches his son to play guitar, he says:
You have to fight the guitar … And you have to win.
That’s an incredible piece of advice for playing guitar. And it’s some of the best writing advice … ever.
It’s back-alley wisdom. A tip you might get from an older brother in a vacant lot before your first fistfight.
You have to fight. And you have to win.
If Jack would’ve said, “You have to fight the guitar,� and stopped there, then the mood in the room might have been grim.
In other words, there’s no hope. You could win. More than likely you would lose. Yet, he said, “And you have to win.â€?
In other words, fight until you win. There is hope, but you have to fight.
And yet, it’s not enough to just fight.
Four approaches to becoming a legend
You don’t become one of the greatest living guitarists without a little strategy, technique, knowledge, and flair. These approaches make guitarists world famous. And writers legendary.
Let’s look at how these four approaches will help you win the fight to become an exceptional writer …
1. Strategy
Always start with the why.
Why do you want to become a writer? Do you have what it takes? What does it take?
Here are some signals to look for:
- Drive for supremacy — Exceptional writers believe that they have to be the best. They have a sense of destiny. They will put a dent in the universe. They will be a pioneer, champion, or master. They map out grand visions and risky projects. They shoot for monumental victories, and they are not satisfied with the attention of thousands. They want millions, even billions. And more often than not, they benefit from those big dreams.
- Capacity for solitude — Exceptional writers are comfortable being alone. They prefer the library over the coffee house, the office over the swimming pool. Their involvement in social, political, or religious communities and affairs is low. To be active in these realms is to take time away from work. Work comes before all else.
- Special talent — Exceptional writers can write. It’s often the only thing they do well. It’s natural that they become servants to that talent, seeking ways to express and master it. They look for opportunities to study under top teachers. They read and write obsessively.
Listen, while everyone on the planet can and should be able to write, it doesn’t mean they can do it well. There are reasons why you shouldn’t be a writer.
Perhaps you don’t know if you were meant to be a writer. Perhaps you’re not sure you want to devote your life to the craft. If that is the case, then you could always tackle a writing project for 30 days. At the end of 30 days, evaluate your feelings.
Did you enjoy it?
Did you have trouble staying on track?
2. Technique
Now we’re into mechanics — actually punching the keyboard.
This will probably absorb most of your time since mastering your technique is what has made the greats the greatest.
This is hard work. This is daily work.
If you’re a dandy or a princess, then this lifestyle is not for you. Wrestling with a 2,000-word essay is not unlike birthing a calf. A life is at stake here. Your job is to make sure it survives.
Your job is to sit in the cold and mud and pull until it comes out.
- Park your bottom in front of the keyboard — Do I need to explain?
- Practice — Even when they are not writing, exceptional writers find ways to practice. They write emails, tweets, or Facebook posts. They journal in the morning and in the evening, and whether they are running over hilly trails or lying beneath the clouds, they are writing and rewriting in their heads. Furthermore, their practice involves a clear purpose: they try to improve a certain element of their writing. It could be first sentences or calls to action. And finally, this practice is repetitive. The goal is to make it an instinct.
- Adjust — Exceptional writers are the best and worst critics of their own work. They pull out old letters and blog posts. They re-purpose recent emails after they’ve ruthlessly edited like David Mamet. And they are always asking themselves: “How could I have written this better?”
- Ask for feedback — Exceptional writers scheme their ways into relationships with honest professionals who can give them the kind of input needed to improve. They are willing to adjust based on the feedback they get.
- Experiment — Exceptional writers look for new angles. They study a list of the best first and last sentences. They wonder if an article would be better if they injected humor, shared a racy illustration, or opened with a quote. Anything to break new ground.
There are endless ways to practice and master your technique. You are limited only by your imagination. And if you are an exceptional writer, then that imagination will be deep.
3. Knowledge
There are two types of knowledge: general and specific. General knowledge is three-miles wide and three-inches deep. Specific knowledge is three-inches wide and three-miles deep.
As a professional content writer, my specific knowledge plunges into the depths of writing, persuasion, content marketing, advertising, negotiations, SEO, and social media.
My general knowledge ranges from mountaineering to morality — from Christianity to chess. I enjoy reading about gravity, content marketing, dying, Theodore Roosevelt, and libertarianism. There is no end to my curiosity. And all of it feeds the beast.
So how do you build this knowledge? Here are seven approaches I recommend.
- Build a wicked vocabulary — Words are your currency. Do you know how to wisely invest in words? Read blogs, books, and speeches. Read wide. And read the unorthodox to build that wicked vocabulary.
- Become an anti-scholar — Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan, coined this term. It refers to the person who focuses on the books he or she has not read. It’s not so much how much you know, but how much you don’t know — and how to find out that information when you need it. Ben Johnson, while scanning the book spines in a library, said knowing where to find the information is just as important as having the information in your head.
- Memorize — Recall in writing is critical. I have a pretty good memory. Not photographic, but I can recall most memories in detail. This is why I try to memorize chunks of text, handwrite a compelling page, or listen repeatedly to a line in a speech. I want to impress the cadence, vocabulary, and style into my mind. So pick your favorite writers, and then start.
- Travel — Reading is not the only mode of learning. Actually going through experiences, meeting new people, and seeing different parts of the world will build your knowledge base. It’s what Jeff Goins calls the discipline of travel. And it’s an excellent educator.
- Sit in a classroom — These days, you could take an online course. You don’t have to load your backpack with supplies and roll up to the community college on your bicycle. Many major universities now make their course materials available online. MIT, Yale, or Stanford. My favorite course that I’ve listened to is Shelly Kagan’s Death.
- Educate yourself through writing sprints — In 2011 and 2012, I wrote more than 220 articles in nine months for a client. These weren’t push-over posts. These were technical and an average of 1,400 words per article. I got really good at predicting which article would do well, and where.
- Follow a blog like Gangrey — The guys at Gangrey are on a mission to “prolong the slow death of newspapers.” So they hunt down and share some of the best long-form reporting online. You can trust that each story they find will have this in common: great openings, sublime conclusions, and beautiful storytelling in between. Whether it is about a marathon fraud or the death of a semi-pro football player, these articles rock.
Like technique, the ways you absorb knowledge are only limited by your imagination. What methods do you use to build your specific and general knowledge?
4. Flair
Listen, one of the hardest things for a writer to uncover is her voice, style, and flair. Why? Lack of confidence, which comes from a lack of experience. And the best way to cure a lack of confidence and experience is to practice.
See, churning out page after page day in and day out, you will slowly uncover who you are. You’ll begin to recognize your voice and flair.
But there are other clues you can look for, too. Here are five.
- Find the source of your compliments — Think back to the last time you shared something you wrote with someone. What did they compliment you on? Did they say you were funny? That you have a way of telling a story? When you start to see a pattern in the compliments you receive about your writing, then you can start to identify your voice.
- Find the feeling that is you — For many people, writing is a process of becoming a different person. Joan Didion said, “It’s the only way I can be aggressive.” Didion is a petite woman who wears dark sunglasses. Anyone who’s read her work understands her carnal severity. The confident voice she uses in her work. The courage to catch hell. What type of person does writing allow you to become? Find it, and then dwell in it.
- A personal seal — The work of exceptional writers bears a distinctive seal. Hugh McLeod is the darling of meaningful work. Leo Babauta is the spokesperson for minimalism. Douglas Adams is the skeptical comic. C.S. Lewis, the rational fabulist. Here’s the lesson: identify with what you do. View it as an extension of yourself. Invest a personal stake in your writing. And make it big.
- Be an iconoclast — Exceptional writers are usually at odds with someone. The State. The Culture. A person or process. Their style is confrontational, wild, and sarcastic. Before his death, Christopher Hitchens was one of the most feared rhetoricians. George Orwell noted that his work was lifeless when it wasn’t political. Are you bucking the trend? Or are you intentionally parroting the status quo? Look for ways to stand out. To confront. And make it appear natural.
- Milk your dysfunctions — Regret. Bitterness. Pain. These are the usual responses to awful experiences. But have you ever thought of being grateful for these experiences? That because you have suffered, you are now perfectly suited to help other people cope and fight through those same situations? Flannery O’Connor said that if you survive the first two decades of your life, then you’ll have a lifetime of writing material. However, you can go too far.
I saved the best for last …
I need to come clean with you. After reading this article, you might think I’m a curmudgeon. That I view the writing life as a Spartan affair full of suffering.
Not true.
I love to write. I think it is a joy. A celebration. Yes, it’s a fight. But it’s not work. I love to climb into that ring every morning and manhandle words. It can be painful at times, but it never really feels like I’m suffering.
To quote Ray Bradbury …
The moment it feels like work, stop and do something else.
Have you found your voice? How did you find it? Please share your story with us on LinkedIn …
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on October 1, 2012.
Reader Comments (115)
Uwe Luschas says
Thanks for the Reminders. I have printed them out and re-study them.
“Become an anti-scholar” has also another dimension for me: writing in a practical way and in simple practical words that people can easily understand. We have to much knowledge and often too little application and testing of knowledge.
Demian Farnworth says
Application (execution) is critical. I’m glad this post helped you, Uwe.
George Lindberg says
Sage advice, especially about knowledge. With our country becoming increasingly polarized, it’s refreshing to read about someone who advocates drawing from many sources and then synthesizing. Thanks
Demian Farnworth says
Your welcome. I’m a pretty skeptical guy of just about everyone’s POV (including mine), but it’s helped me make better decisions when I understand a position from both sides of the table. By the way, you might enjoy the book The Righteous Mind by Haidt.
John says
Should be “you’re” welcome.
Jay Walsh says
John, if you want to play Grammar-Nazi on Demian, then YOUR sentence should have read:
Demian, I’m a douche – you should have used the spelling, ‘you’re’ instead of ‘your’ in your opening sentence.
“Those who live in glass houses…”
Kat Rags says
Very sage advice. I wonder though about the inherent fear that comes with writing. How do you harness that feeling to create better content, novels, poetry or short stories? Perhaps this applies more to creative writing but I believe many writers struggle with that feeling that their work is never complete. What strategies are there to combat this feeling?
Jim Hamlett says
Kat, one of the best strategies that worked for me was being in a good critique group. (I wrote this reply after my comment below, and I realize that I failed to mention a critique group. It’s hard to find a good one.) Input from others helped me tremendously. I agree that many writers struggle with deciding when their work is complete. It’s often a judgment best made by others.
Demian Farnworth says
I second your recommendation, Jim!
Kat Rags says
Jim –
How right you are! As a content writer I have no problems saying ‘this is done.’ Blogs, website content and so on follow a type of formula and typically have guidelines. What I personally struggle with is my creative writing. Would LOVE to get in touch with a good critique group – any suggestions?
Jim Hamlett says
I’m sure there are some online groups. (I tried a Google search on “Creative Writing Critique Groups,” and found some options there. The first listing at Squidoo has a review of online groups. Worth a look.) I prefer a face-to-face group. If that’s your preference, then try asking at your local library if any groups meet there. You could also try local bookstores, colleges. If none exist, which would surprise me, then you could post a note on a bulletin board in one of those places to see if you get any takers. I think a small group is best (4-5 people). Bear in mind that not all critique groups are created equal. If you find yourself in one that is full of highly critical people who can only offer negative comments with no suggestions for how to fix things, then get out. You’ll get very discouraged and won’t grow at all in that environment. Helpful critique is what you want. I’m sure you already know this. Good luck to you. Drop me a line and let me know how it goes. (jimh@gracefulword.com)
George Lindberg says
That’s the truth. Revise Revise Revise. And then Revise again. A beta reader says, how in the heck did you get here from there? OMG. Must revise!
Demian Farnworth says
Regarding “the feeling that your work is never complete” I’d say learn to live with it. You will ALWAYS feel like your work is not complete–even the best writers (Hemingway or Ogilvy) struggled with this. The poet Auden said “A poem is never finished–just abandoned.” You have to know when it is good enough to stop.
Kat Rags says
Love the quote by Auden – perfect way to remind myself that I have to stop at some point!
Jim Hamlett says
This is a keeper, Demian. You asked how we found our voice. Here’s my tale:
After writing pages and pages of junk, I finally confessed I didn’t know how to write. I couldn’t go back to school, so I read books. Some of the best advice I received was “read great writers.” So I went to the library and started reading. Frankly, I couldn’t figure out how some of them became great. So I pulled books at random from the shelf and read until I could hear “music” in my head as my eyes followed the words. “This is a great writer,” I thought. Little did I know that I’d stumbled on someone whose “voice” was similar to the one I hadn’t discovered yet.
I read everything by that writer. Then I tried to mimic him/her in my own writing. I did this with all the writers I found who “sounded” great to me. This led to what many call overwriting. So I took some self-taught lessons in editing. (Two of the best books I read were Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Brown, and Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale.)
Then it was cut, cut, cut. You’ve probably heard the old saw that a great movie is not made by all the film that was shot, but by what was left on the editing room floor. The same is true for anything written. After several rounds of editing, what I had left on the page sounded genuine. I didn’t get sick to my stomach when I came back to read it several days later.
After the self-editing sessions, I sent my manuscript to a hired gun and let her put a red pen to it. I was pleasantly surprised by the low number of changes she recommended. At that point, I felt I’d arrived at finding my voice, a melody that pleased me. And if the comments I’ve received on my novel are true, it’s a melody that pleases others, too.
Many thanks for a great article and an inspiring story.
Demian Farnworth says
Love your story. Sounds so much like mine. I went to school, but my real education was at my desk, in the books I read and among critique groups.
Christy King says
Yes, I, too, loved your story, Jim.
I’d love to know which writers you were most inspired by, or drawn to.
I think the best advice I’ve received lately has been, “Kill your censor and write 1,000 words more, and when you’re done, remove every extra word that you don’t need to tell your story” because one of my biggest flaws was being overly wordy. I thought of the authors that I loved the most, and had “fake it until you make it” in the back of my mind.
Cynthia Winton-Henry says
This may be one of the best posts ever. Maybe one of the best pieces on writing that I’ve seen in awhile. Or, maybe in the moment of reading it, I turned a corner and it clicked. I am a writer. I am not wasting time. I am not escaping from my life. I am not ignoring other work. I am a writer. I learned long ago that it is not necessary to be the best artist on the block to do what I need and want to do. As a dancer I could see that my talents were unique but didn’t compare to other professionals. So instead, I created a system for people like me, people seeking the eloquence of movement without the baggage. It’s called InterPlay and now its in five countries. Meanwhile, I write. I blog, email, and write articles. I started monetizing my writing by writing a monthly article for subscribers. I didn’t get all the right systems in place first. I started writing. I send my writing to a group of 26 people at the moment. They pay me 15.00 a month. I bought Premise in March. I just hired someone to help me move forward with that. So, thank you. Thank you for the encouragement, the reminder, and helping me to unlock this little truth. I am a writer typos and all.
Juliana Trichilo Cina says
“curmudgeon” … way to practice what you preach! Also the guitar segue was a brilliant emotional hook. You had me feeling nostalgic for…. I don’t know what… but I certainly kept reading!
Demian Farnworth says
Glad you liked the opening. I think it came together pretty well.
Dave Temple says
This is one more exceptional article. It’s informative and in-depth; however, it’s inspiring and motivational. So often, I feel as though a blogger (writer) is trying to sell me something. I didn’t get that feeling here. I am challenged to go out and make a difference and follow my dream. Sure, I’ve been following it all along, but I have (as my dusty site shows), drifted just left of my center. I’m getting back on track and will write with wreckless abandon and damn the torpedoes. Or, something pretty close to that. Thanks, Demian.
Demian Farnworth says
You bet, Dave!
KB says
This was very interesting article, and I actually read it from start to finish. Also I’m going to start implementing some of the advice immediately.
I did have a small issue with the section on special talent though. Talent is overrated. Anyone can become great if they put in consistent and focused effort.
Demian Farnworth says
Talent is definitely overrated, KB, but I got to disagree that I could never be a great battlefield commander because I just do not have a lot of the tangibles necessary, namely passion for the work.
Mark L says
Great article…and one that share some real insight into what is required to become a writer who MUST share their message…I lurch forward and then drop backwards. Somehow I need to devote time to do what you have suggested; just read, write and share.
This is my month to consistently/daily write in my journal. As I am also a photo/video professional, I am really wanting to combine the two mediums…and see what develops.
Thanks for your dedication to the craft.
Demian Farnworth says
Discipline, Mark, that’s the key. It’s hard to do the hard work when you don’t want to. But you do what you don’t want to do to achieve what you do want (recognition, etc).
John says
I got this post in my email box this morning, and I can truly say that my world has been rocked. I’ve been on the fence on a few issues, and now, more than ever, I feel that I have been given some very strong advice, encouragement, and a true challenge. This post will be read, and re-read several time in the coming days, weeks, and months! Thank you.
Demian Farnworth says
I am SO delighted when I get comments like this. Thank you, you’ve made my morning!
Gwynneth says
Great way to start a Monday! I especially loved the Joan Didion quote because I was just wrestling with something like it over the weekend. It’s giving me the impetus to keep plugging.
Demian Farnworth says
Your welcome, Gwynneth. Didion is a personal hero.
Denise Loughlin says
Absolutely bloody brilliant how-to! You are a master wordsmith Demian beyond all doubt! This is one of the most succinct authentic crafting pieces ever! Curmudgeon? Not!!! Love the fight analogy, how you get into the ring each morning and manhandle words. These are such vivid images that I can hear the crowd roaring, Rocky theme ascendant, and your head bloodied yet unbowed, thesarus and dictionary aloft in each hand, arms raised in victory salute to syllables everywhere. You celebrate word rage and incite the rest of us to jump in, jump on and conquer words which swirl, thrill and entrance all writers to this dance that bedevils and blesses which we call writing. Thanks so very very much for sharing – can’t wait to read your next blog!
Demian Farnworth says
“Word rage.” LOVE it. I’m stealing that, Denise. 🙂 And thank you for your kind words.
Denise Loughlin says
Add “lick yourself” as an extra bonus writer to writer – keyboard a keyboard – mano y mano.
I celebrate and salute you sir. Your gift of clarity and knock-out keyboarding worth so much more than simple gift of “word rage”.
How do you feel about “phoneme pusher”, or maybe “gerund grinder” or “grammar grifter”?
Let me know – what a blast to read your work – am definitely working to get you cloned….until then, happy wording……!
Thanks for the compliment of stealing mine own syllabic slants…..so very much obliged, good sir….
Demian Farn!worth says
Nice!
john says
Boy, I needed this today. Yesterday, I said to myself, my job is to write. It’s 12 noon and I haven’t written a word.
I have been IN STUCK…thanks for your helpful post.
Demian Farnworth says
Been there, John. Glad I could help.
SF says
I have to ask, what is it about writers that makes them want to subject themselves to such punishment?
Demian Farnworth says
Survival? I’ve been asking myself that question for years and haven’t come up with a good answer.
Trevor Acy says
You know you’ve read a great article when it at once confirms what you believe and have been trying to accomplish while exposing with bright hot light what you have also failed to do.
The section on knowledge was my favorite. The section on technique was reassuring. The section on strategy was challenging. And the section on flair was inspiring.
Thanks for a great article.
Demian Farnworth says
Thank you Trevor!
Kosta says
Brilliant article. And a little overwhelming. I got a lot from it, as I’m “fighting to win” in writing.
You have strategy, technique, knowledge and flair. One thing that makes me spend nights writing and which I haven’t really seen in the article is: Passion. Passion to write something other people will love.
Demian Farnworth says
Do you mean you didn’t see passion in the writing? Or do you mean you didn’t see a section on Passion? I think you meant the second one, but just wanted to check.
Kosta says
Indeed, I didn’t see a section on passion.
Good Guy Robert says
I Love all this advice!
Ultimately, you have to believe in the project enough to WANT to write the thing, and you have to care about the final product enough to force it into existence in as polished a form as you’d want to read it!
Demian Farnworth says
Yep, dump anything that you aren’t passionate about.
Greg Marquez says
I wonder if the first requirement isn’t having something to say.
Demian Farnworth says
Good point. I guess that was implied. 🙂
Julie Sheridan says
I found this post genuinely helpful, thank you. A lot of writing advice is the same old trotted out tripe, but this one has some great advice. The ‘source of your compliments’ is interesting…especially when what you’re being complimented on doesn’t square with your own perception of your strengths.
Demian Farnworth says
Yeah, objectivity is a killer way to get way better in so many ways. Compliments, mentor, feedback, critique group. A must.
Jay Walsh says
Demian, first thing outta the gate, excellent article.
Now the picky stuff (cuz I love, “It May Get Loud”)… as for Jack and his son, it’s actually Jack and younger Jack (himself) – he’s teaching himself how to play guitar (a play on words).
And second (arguably) the best scene is when the three guitar heroes are chatting and Jimmy Page calmly slips on his Les Paul and breaks into the opening riff of Whole Lotta Love. You watch Jack and the Edge instantly transform into teenage fans sitting at the feet of their hero. When asked later about the scene during a press conference, the Edge replied, “when I saw the scene for the first time, all I could think of was – ‘stop smiling, you idiot, stop smiling!'”
Which is interesting in itself because lends to your article: Like a guitarist, when deciding what type of writer you want to be, you can either be the hero – or the icon… or you can be Jimmy Page.
Demian Farn!worth says
Jay, missed it that that boy was the younger Jack, not his son. Good call. I think the story still works though. And “being Jimmy Page,” well played. 🙂
Jay Walsh says
Yup, no complaints about the article — very well crafted, sir… definitely a keeper!
Ben Troy says
There is only one way to be an exceptional blogger , find what it is about you that makes you exceptional and funnel that through your blog. You must leverage your unique special talents in every blog post you make and be certain that your blogging goals are derived from your talents.
SF says
I so agree with this.
Demian Farn!worth says
Me too!
MaLinda Johnson says
I like the concept of information feeding the beast. Every movie I watch, every errand I run, every website I read gives me more ideas for blog posts. I find my voice by taking all of those experiences and writing about them, endlessly.
I also majored in English as an undergrad. I don’t think it is absolutely critical to get an English degree to be a writer. The skills I learned for how to organize a paper and how to describe objects and experiences for my essays carry over nicely to writing my blog posts. 🙂
Demian Farn!worth says
You are correct. Not critical to get a degree to be a writer. Here’s to feeding the beast!
Ocha says
I have to say, one of the best posts I have read in a while. Thanks.
Carole Lyden says
Pit Bull on paper has a great ring to it and a confidence that inspires. I also like to womanhandle words, writing and rewriting to find out what I want to say. I found this article to be highly relevant and conducive to continue on.
Demian Farn!worth says
“Womanhandle”! yes, that’s what I’m talking about!
Sherrell Qualls says
What a great post Demian! I love the passion you got in writing. Writing is indeed a fight; you got to have the passion and the drive that keeps you going. I am a reader, a fanatic I would say; I have this obsession with writing. Normally, I don’t want to really write, but if I go to bed without writing some article down, I feel like I really let myself down. I enjoy solitude, and when I find myself alone, I actually do write. Sometimes I feel like I have this crazy obsession with writing; how about reading? Don’t even go there… I am an addict! I even love word games and I like to solve them. I normally avoid getting into that ring but whenever I am in it, I usually find myself ready to play with the words and I really enjoy the game. Do you think there is this writing person in me? Should I explore?
Demian Farn!worth says
Explore away, but keep in mind that writing is more than playing with words. It’s not a game, but a craft–a discipline–you have to hone. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes.
Sherrell Qualls says
I will thanks!
Jefferson Weiss says
Nice blog post Demian. This is exactly what I needed. i like the way you portray the picture of Jack White as a guitarist in the writing field. I love the commitment. I like the passion and I have to confess; this is about the finest writing I have read in days. Thanks for putting it up.
Demian Farn!worth says
Thanks Jefferson!
Sherrie says
Very inspiring! Thanks so much!
Lyndsay says
Thanks so much for a great piece of advice. Ive been writing in my head all my life, and on paper and blogs for the last two years. Ive always been pathetically insecure about my writing as I never studied English literature and have to admit I dont read much……… but I write, A LOT!
Finally something really dramatic happened that changed my life and the perspective on the validation of writing, finally finding the courage to share the story.
Ive just completed the first chapter of my book and it feels great!
Will be coming back here for more! Thank you!
Demian Farnworth says
Lyndsay, you don’t need a formal education to be a writer. So many great writers didn’t have a formal education. College education is the max, but you don’t even need that. Just read like a mad woman. 🙂
Rickie Maynard says
You are a great writer Demian! Love the story above Jack White; he’s a superior mentor actually! At the start of blog, you sound so unique and interesting indeed since your write up is attention-grabbing at a high degree and I loved your come up much. Thanks a lot for such encouraging and inspiring tips of becoming an exception writer, that'[s what every blogger dream of, no doubt. Thank you for saving me such a beautiful and helpful ideas!
Demian Farnworth says
Glad I could help, Rickie. And I’m pretty fond of the opening, too. Came together nicely. I actually sat on that opening for quite some time before I could use it.
John Forde says
Demian,
Not much more to be said except… brilliant post!
John F.
Demian Farnworth says
John, thank you sir!
Christy King says
Wow.
Sorry, I know “Wow” isn’t terribly eloquent, but I found it necessary to begin with that because, well, it’s very summartive of what I was thinking the entire time I was reading this. (Is summarative even a real word? I think I’m going to pretend it is…I digress).
After years of believing I was a writer and then gaining a decent following on Myspace as a “blogger” I decided I was not a writer and that if i wanted to be one, I needed to find my center, and compete against it. My weakness was fiction so I vied for a weekly posting spot on a team of writers for a literary site that focused on short, (mostly fictional) essays. I didn’t suck at it. I needed to learn a lot, hone more than a little bit, but it taught me to get out of my comfort zone and to push myself into a new niche. Now being published in the second issue of a new “bookzine”, freelancing as a guest writer and copy editor, the skills I’ve learned have helped me immeasurably for my own personal blog.
This post is the goods. I plan to spam my writery friends with it momentarily.
Demian Farn!worth says
Christy, love your story, your compliment, your new word “summarative,” and your promise to spam your friends! YOU are my new best friend!
Christy King says
Giggity! Best friends make for a good day.
Consider the friends spammed 🙂
Buntu Redempter says
Probably the best article I ever read on being a writer!
Demian Farn!worth says
Really? Wow, thank you. Very kind of you.
Paige C. Willey says
I like how you mention the various ways writers work on their skills. So often we think of them in too academic of a setting, but writing happens out in the world.
This post is so thorough, I believe you when you say you wrote 220 articles for a client in nine months. Did you find that it came easier and faster as you went along?
Demian Farn!worth says
Yup, you get faster because the learning curve drops, you accumulate mountains of data and your mind just starts making connections. The hard part at that point is not repeating yourself. 🙂
Tania Dakka says
Powerful stuff, Demian, as always. Love the technique section and the tips to start copying the stuff we want to memorize. To be an exceptional writer, we have to live it and don’t let anyone tell us that we’re not – it will eventually happen, even if it hasn’t yet. Thanks for the info…off to study how to write.
Demian Farn!worth says
You are a hard worker, Tania. Proud of you.
Tania Dakka says
Aw, thanks, Demian – quite a compliment:) (I’m all smiles now!) Have an awesome day!
akindele says
I’m glad you mention continuous writing practice which is helping me now.thanks
HopefulLeigh says
I needed this reminder. Thank you.
Demian Farn!worth says
You bet.
Richard says
I never liked writing but ever since I became blogger, I have stated loving it. Thank you for this fabulous post.
Archan Mehta says
Thank you for contributing your guest article on this fabulous blog: I really enjoyed reading your article.
I agree: in my case, I found out rather early in life that I was not inclined toward engineering. Gadgets and machines did not interest me, but I gravitated toward literature.
I especially valued writers with a great sense of humour like Mark Twain, V.S. Naipaul, Woody Allen, Steve Martin, P.G. Wodehouse and any writer who could make me laugh.
I have spent many solitary hours reading in the library and do not regret that decision. I think creative types need their own space and it is best to enjoy solitary confinement. Silence means peace of mind and you have the time to read and write all you want. And you do not have to argue with people you would rather avoid anyway.
Thus, writers are solitary souls and want to be far away from the maddening crowds. We need to be left alone in order to find our own, unique voice. We need to be away from the noise and distractions and polluting influence of those who do not understand us nor support us; those who are bitter and cynical; those who try to cut us down to size.
It is better for a writer to have a fixed agenda daily, say, 500 words. After a while, that can be extended to one thousand words. Stephen King has lived his life according to a plan. If it works for him, it can work for you too or anybody else.
Cheers.
Jac Brey says
Gangrey comes up as an attack site.
Anyone know better?
Sonia Simone says
I see it too, it was good the other day so I suspect it was hacked. (This is why we’ve written 10,000 posts on site security, damned hackers never slow down.) I’d give it a few days to get it resolved.
Update: I let them know on Twitter and they’re working on getting it resolved.
Lesley says
Hey there,
I just wanted to say thanks for such a fantastic post – as I re-shape my own working practice, this has been really insightful and I will definitely be putting lots of these (that I’m not doing already) into practice!
Can’t wait to read more from you!
Demian Farn!worth says
Thank you for the encouragement Lesley!
amy says
I am by no means anything of a writer…I write for my job, I am a juvenile blogger…but I still believe I have mountains to climb before I really call myself a write – so apologies if this question is ridiculous.
What do you mean by this, specifically Cat Marnell?:
Milk your dysfunctions — Regret. Bitterness. Pain. These are the usual responses to awful experiences. But have you ever thought of being grateful for these experiences? That because of what you have suffered you are now perfectly suited to help other people cope and fight through those same situations? Flannery O’Connor said that if you survive the first two decades of your life then you’ll have a lifetime of writing material. However, you can go too far in this regard. Exhibit A: Cat Marnell.
I’ve read all her posts and it did cross my mind many times,”How does this girl have a job?! I work at writing every day and this girl brings in the most views for the xojane website!” But as I read her inconsistency in writing every week (or whenever she decided to submit something for the site)…her flaws and her honesty brought the most comments.
Is it wrong to be so honest in our writing? Do we still need to ‘curb’ the heart on our sleeve for our audiences?
I feel at my most comfortable being ME….
thank you!
Demian Farnworth says
By all means be yourself. What Cat Marnell is doing is living a dangerously loose life so she’ll have material. She likes being an addict exhibitionist because it gets those clicks/comments. Is it worth it? No, because she is losing her edge (not to mention her jobs) and coming awfully close to losing her life.
amy says
totally agree with you demian. see? stupid question, thanks for spelling out the obvious. lol.
have a great day!
Demian Farnworth says
Not a stupid question. I re-read what I wrote and I wasn’t entirely clear. Good question. Helped me clarify. Thank you!
Jeff Goins says
Thanks for the link, Demian. Man, EPIC post. Well done!
Don Rey Vargas says
Demian!! Great tips for being a writer. now i can simply call myself as a writer, because every time i wrote something it comes from the heart.
Tim Miller says
Loved this post Jeremy. It’s really enjoying to read actually.
I agree with you. Sometimes, i feel that over the time, my writing is becoming so boring to read, even for me. Reading other blogs or news sites can be really helpful to increase our vocabs. I also agree when you said that we have to memorize everything that we read from those blogs because that’s the best way to really keep it in our brain for our recalls everytime we write new contents.
Laura Billingham says
I really enjoyed reading this, some great practical advice that I can put into practice immediately. Thank you.
Demian Farnworth says
You’re welcome, Laura.
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