Sit down, write, and hit publish!

Writing doesn't have to be hard

Sit down. Write. Hit Publish.

It may be an oversimplification and may fall short on many grounds compared to the writing advice you may receive from actual writers. There are even books written on how to write and Twitter threads on writing for your online audience, including how to choose a niche. However, I believe it ultimately boils down to writing as it comes to you, untangling the intricate ideas in your head.

Writing has always felt daunting to me, like a mountain I couldn't scale or a vast ocean I couldn't swim. Something about organising and putting my thoughts on paper (or these days, a text editor) feels unsettling. How could I do justice to everything I have to say? How could I unravel the mess in my mind? Why does it even matter?

This contrasts sharply with the environment at home. Writing comes naturally to my mother, who shares her writing in her small corner of the internet. She writes short stories, poems, and packages her experiences as wisdom nuggets. My father wrote elaborate letters to his loved ones, published a couple of books, and had a keen interest in journaling. My grandmother loves to write as well and even composed a small anthology of our family's history, complete with tidbits, life-changing moments, and fun facts!

They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right? Well, the apple didn't fall far from the tree, but it's filled with a whole lot of self-doubt —at least, that has been the case recently!

A slow walk down the memory line

I have always been fascinated by writing since my childhood. English classes brought me joy, and I particularly loved teachers who assigned extra reading. Writing book reviews and working on summer homework that involved writing long essays became my favourite activities. I delved into O. Henry's short stories and discovered my ability to write essays on topics I didn't know I could!

However, as I grew older, the fear of perfection started to set in. As children, we do things because we love them, free from apprehension and fear, driven by our enthusiasm, curiosity and solely because it brings us joy. But somewhere along the way, as we grow older, the pressure to cater to an audience begins to weigh on us.

Every time I sat down to write, it felt like I had nothing to say and yet so much to say. When you have nothing to say, there is emptiness. When your mind is flooded with thoughts, you feel overwhelmed. These are distinct signs, if you think about it. One prompts you to search for what excites you, while the other advises you to take a breath. Finding your purpose and knowing when to step back from pursuing it are perpetual challenges we face. So where does one even start?

Don't write well. Just write!

My day job involves a lot of writing, so by the time I sit down to write for myself, I am knackered. When you constantly think about how to improve each line, how to craft a captivating launch blog that will floor your audience, and how to make your writing more consumable, it's hard not to carry forward the same mindset when writing about things that truly matter to you.

The first step for me was to remove the pressure from writing.

“I have to write without inhibition and trust that there’s time later to reread with discernment. There’s two internal voices to tune into: one is the writer’s voice, which pours forth, the other is the voice of a reader with taste, saying things like “hmm, nice beat there” or “faulty premise” or “good god, this phrase is fucking awful, CUT CUT CUT.” The first voice writes the first draft, the second turns it to a second then third then fourth and then, the morning of the deadline, into Finalfinal4.doc.” - Rega Jha 

I told myself, "Nobody has to read this. Nobody needs to make sense of this. Literally, nobody needs to learn from this." It's quite ironic that I'm publishing this for hundreds of people to read and analyse (okay, maybe not a hundred, but fifty people). But it's the most important part of it all!

Writing is a way of thinking. Writing is dancing. Writing is utterly and truly delightful. Writing can open up numerous doors and (friendships). And writing doesn't have to be groundbreaking; it just has to be meaningful. The rest will find its course!

Does it matter? Well, it depends!

Another thing that used to haunt me was why what I write matters when it has already been said before. There are so many talented writers out there. So how does my writing add value?

Breaking news: Those questions can wait!

There is so much content out there on how to make your writing shine, but very few people encourage you to write because what you have to say matters, even if it's just for yourself. You don't have to be a writer to write. You become one the moment you start writing.

The only thing that truly matters is that you should do it if it matters to you! Everything is temporary, and if you'd rather be writing because you have so much to say, stop reading this and go write!

So, sit down, write, and hit publish (only if you want)!

“When it's done, let it rest for a few days before publishing. The blur will disappear and you'll be able to see the monstrosities you wrote.” - Thomosaurus