The Elements of Style

1. Creativity stems from the deep human desire to be heard and understood

At the root of all creative expression is a deep, inborn and very human desire to be heard.

Communication as connection. Humans have an innate need to reach out and connect with others, bridging the gap between internal experiences and the external world. This desire manifests early in life as we learn to communicate through various means, including language.

Writing as expression. For writers, this urge to communicate evolves into a passion for expressing ideas more clearly, beautifully, and in novel ways. Writing becomes a powerful tool to create new worlds, incubate ideas, and explore the depths of human experience.

Creative power. Creativity allows us to imagine new possibilities and initiate change. It's the ability to look at reality and wonder, "What if this was different?" This imaginative capacity is fundamental to human progress and personal growth.

2. Tap into your "Big Why" to unlock your creative potential

Tapping into the deep roots of why you are compelled to write at all is a brilliant way to unlock your true motivations and your ultimate reason for that urge to take what's in your head and put it out there in the world.

Identify your purpose. Understanding your deeper motivations for writing is crucial for sustaining creativity and overcoming obstacles. Reflect on questions like:

• What response do you hope to receive from your writing?
• How would you feel if no one understood your message?
• What is the essence of your message?
• If you had the world's attention for five minutes, what would you say?

Connect with your core. By exploring these questions, you can uncover the driving force behind your creative impulses. This connection to your "Big Why" serves as an inexhaustible source of inspiration and motivation.

Authentic expression. When you understand your true purpose, you're less likely to need external prompts or gimmicks to overcome writer's block. Your writing becomes a natural extension of your deepest self.

3. Embrace desire as the root of creativity and motivation

To reach out into the world takes a stirring, a yearning, a wanting.

Explore your desires. To reignite your creative spark, dive deep into your wants and needs. Ask yourself:

• What do you crave in life?
• What changes do you wish to see in the world?
• What experiences do you long for?

Harness creative energy. Your desires serve as a powerful source of motivation and inspiration. They can fuel your writing through difficult moments of self-doubt or lack of enthusiasm.

Challenge reality. Many beautiful creations exist because their creators were dissatisfied with the status quo. Embrace your desire for change and improvement as a catalyst for your creative work.

4. Cultivate the courage to express your unique voice

Being creative takes a certain amount of audacity, and the sorry truth is that most of us are just too afraid to speak up and say our bit.

Overcome fear. Many potential writers struggle with the belief that they don't have the right to speak or that their ideas aren't worthy of attention. This fear often stems from societal conditioning that discourages unique expression.

Embrace authenticity. Recognize that your perspective is valuable precisely because it's unique. Your experiences, thoughts, and feelings contribute to a voice that only you can provide.

Take the leap. Remember that all successful authors and speakers started as unknown individuals. They found success by having the courage to share their ideas despite fear or uncertainty.

5. Adopt a 24/7 writer's mindset to capture inspiration

Writers write even when they're not writing.

Always be ready. Carry a notebook or use a digital app to capture ideas, phrases, or observations throughout your day. Inspiration can strike at any moment.

Engage your senses. Practice being more aware of your surroundings:

• Look for interesting details in everyday scenes
• Listen to conversations for authentic dialogue
• Explore new experiences to broaden your perspective

Mental preparation. Even when you're not actively writing, your brain is processing ideas and experiences. Give it material to work with by staying curious and observant in your daily life.

6. Balance ego and growth to handle criticism constructively

Ego and growth. When someone rejects what you've slaved and laboured to create, it's easy to shut down and think they're wrong, that they're being hostile.

Separate self from work. Understand that criticism of your writing is not a personal attack. Learn to view feedback as an opportunity for improvement rather than a threat to your self-worth.

Open-minded evaluation. When receiving criticism:

1. Don't react immediately
2. Evaluate the feedback objectively
3. Look for truth in the critique
4. Adjust your work if necessary

Grow through feedback. Embrace criticism as a valuable tool for refining your skills and improving your writing. The most successful writers are those who can learn from feedback without letting it crush their spirit.

7. Develop a consistent writing habit and overcome writer's block

If you want to be a better writer, you need to write EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT.

Establish a routine. Set a daily writing schedule and stick to it, regardless of inspiration or mood. Treat writing as a job or obligation, not just a hobby.

Push through resistance. Understand that much of writing involves creating "horrible" first drafts. The polishing comes later in the editing process.

Strategies for writer's block:

• Examine what you're avoiding or afraid of
• Look for patterns in when you feel stuck
• Take a break to refresh your mind
• Push through boredom to find interest
• Address any underlying fears of success or failure

8. Master the editing process to refine your work

Editing can be the cauldron in which you brew up your unfinished scratchings into perfect literary elixirs – or it can be a whole lot of bubble and trouble.

Two-phase approach:

1. Draft freely without restraint
2. Edit ruthlessly to refine and polish

Editing techniques:

• Print out work for manual editing
• Read aloud to catch flow issues
• Use different colored highlighters for various elements (interest, confusion, excitement)
• Seek feedback from others, asking specific questions

Know when to stop. Recognize that perfection is unattainable. Learn to let go of a piece when you've put in the work and the core message is clear.

9. Build a supportive writing community for feedback and growth

If you think you can get away with not seeking the advice, support, opinions or feedback of others, think again.

Join writing groups. Look for groups that balance constructive criticism with support. Avoid groups that are overly praising or unnecessarily harsh.

Seek mentorship. Finding an experienced writer to guide you can accelerate your growth and provide valuable insights.

Utilize online communities. Engage with other writers through forums, blogs, and social media platforms to share experiences and get feedback.

Balance feedback. Learn to discern helpful criticism from unhelpful opinions. Use feedback to improve, but stay true to your unique voice and vision.

10. Navigate the publishing process with strategic marketing

To stand out in a sea of billions of people making noise, you'll have to make sure you have something interesting to say, but you'll also have to do your best to catch attention.

Choose your path. Decide between traditional publishing and self-publishing based on your goals and resources.

Build an online presence. Develop a website, blog, or social media presence to connect with potential readers and promote your work.

Understand your audience. Identify your target readers and tailor your marketing efforts to reach them effectively.

Develop a brand. Create a consistent image and message that represents you and your work across all platforms.

Pricing strategy. Research optimal pricing for your genre and format, considering factors like length, quality, and market trends.

Continuous engagement. Develop a long-term plan for maintaining reader interest and promoting your work consistently over time.

Last updated: August 20, 2024