Last Updated: Nov 14, 2022
In 2022, I committed to writing at least 20 minutes a day. Since then, I’ve been reading, researching, and experimenting how gather ideas, write better, and write more consistently.
How to Gather Ideas
Pay attention. Good ideas are never far from you. Books. Youtube videos. A friend’s comment. Nature. Thoughts in your shower. Practice observing.
Collect stories. Nothing captures our brain like interesting stories. The best ones are counterintuitive, full of conflicts, and filled with surprises.
Write down ideas right away. If you come across something interesting, jot it down. Carry a pocket-size notebook, or use the Notes app on your phone. Think you will remember it later? You won’t.
Build a database. Consolidate all your ideas into a system. You can use a journal, a note app, or index cards (my favorite). The idea is to have all your notes in one central location, so you can refer to them later when you need to.
Read broadly. Be curious about a variety of topics. Explore fields you are not familiar with. The best insights often come from connecting great ideas from fields that seem unrelated.
Read deeply. It’s never about the number of books you read (speed reading is BS). Instead, read to absorb and understand. If you come across a great book, read it again, again, and again. You will realize how much you missed the first time around. Underlines great lines. Use the margin to have a conversation with the author. Transfer the best lines into your database.
Chase down the footnotes. I used to ignore references and bibliography. Now they are gold mines to me. Wonder how your favorite author wrote the book in your hand? She read the materials as listed in the back of her book. If you keep digging, you will get closer to the source. Along the way, you will discover new gems you never expected.
Do non-writing activities. The best ideas worth writing about never come from writing itself. Writing is about non-writing. Go do interesting things. Draw, dance, play. Try something new. Exert yourself physically: run, hike, and play sports. Challenge yourself to something you’re uncomfortable with. These are great sources of inspiration.
Don’t be afraid to steal (but give credit.) All good writing references work done by other writers. No one comes up with brand new, nor is that necessary. Copy your favorites quotes and stories. When the time comes, insert into your work but add your own twist. Always give credit.
How to Write Better
Write simply. Stick to short sentences. Don’t be afraid to use periods. If one word is enough, eliminate everything else. Brevity is a gift.
Remove, remove, remove. If 1,000 words can be reduced to 100, use 100. If 100 words can be reduced to 10, use 10. If 10 words can be reduced to 0, use 0.
Use powerful words. Don’t use general words like good or bad. Does good mean rewarding, fruitful, or inspiring? Does bad mean punishing, lackluster, or dreadful?
Use active voice. It’s easier to read and more powerful.
Show, not tell (when possible). Instead of saying “he is nervous,” describe what’s visually happening. “His hands are trembling” conveys the same idea but is far more interesting.
Rewrite stories in your own words. You’ve read a book and other materials about an interesting story. Now rewrite it in different lengths: a 30-second version for a cocktail party, a 2-minute version for a short article, and a 2000-word version for an essay. You will see the story in new lights afterwards.
Separate writing and editing: Dedicate a session to either writing or editing. If it’s a writing session, just write. Do a “word vomit.” Let all the words out without revising. Come back the next day for editing. Mixing writing and editing wastes a lot of time.
Create a rough outline first: Instead of starting to type right away, take a few minutes to write down the key ideas (I use my physical journal). Creating a simple “map” shows where you are heading. You can then assess whether that’s the direction you want to go.
Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite: Writing is rewriting. Don’t be afraid to reset and start over. Your version two, three and four will be far more refined than version one.
Let Go of Perfection. Perfection is an illusion. When you seek perfection, you fear failure. But writing is not about success. It’s about you and your ideas. Accept it will never be perfect anyway.
How to Write Consistently
Write everyday: It’s easiest to commit 100% than to commit 80%. When every day is writing day, you don’t have to wonder if you need to write today.
Keep a few things the same: If possible, write at the same time, at the same place, and on the same device. When you are familiar with the environment, more energy goes into the creative process, instead of finding the tools that you need.
Dedicate a device for writing: I have an older laptop where it can’t do much other than word processing. That’s perfect.
Stop if you are stuck. The moment you feel stuck, you should stop. There’s nothing worse than forcing yourself to sit when you are running dry. Go for a walk, do something else, and come back the next day. There’s always tomorrow.
Eliminate all distractions: Put all electronic devices in another room or lock them in a drawer. Turn off wifi. Use a distraction free writing software (I use iAWriter on a Mac) or simply use a text editor.