The Habits I’m Breaking to Become a More Authentic Writer
It's not helping my income, but it's increasing my enjoyment of my craft
Writing with authenticity isn’t always easy. I’ve been guilty of all the below in my writing journey. But I’m finally quitting the habits that have held me back.
Chasing the money
I’m a working freelance writer so I have to make money from my words, or find another job.
This means I still take on work-for-hire gigs that are purely for the money, but when I’m writing for myself and the specific audience I’ve built on my three major platforms, I no longer think too much about what will be commercially successful.
Instead I write about the topics that fire me up and the issues I think will have an impact on my readers. The things that can truly change the world.
My income has gone down doing this, but my enjoyment of my craft and my sense of authenticity has gone up. Maybe the quality of my writing has too.
Diluting my attention
I like to have a few projects on the go at once, but I’m trying to be strict with myself and not dilute my attention by giving myself too many priorities.
Each major project now needs to be finished before a new one is started. When ideas occur to me that need to go into future projects, I make a note in the relevant file and get back to work on the current project.
Pathological people pleasing
You can’t please all of the people all of the time, and you definitely can’t appeal to all of the readers all of the time.
I used to be scared of offending people, even though I was usually offending people whose opinions I didn’t respect anyway.
I still try to find some balance in my writing, but only in as much as I want to appeal to an audience who will find what I have to say challenging and thought provoking, rather than just preaching to the choir.
I don’t worry any more about upsetting people whose values are never going to align with mine anyway.
What are you doing to grow into the kind of writer you want to be?
Some thoughts from others I’ve been enjoying this week
10 unconventional things I'm doing to grow my newsletter from
My Proven System To Go Viral On Substack Notes (and Turn Likes Into Subscribers) from
The Mini Book Series Experiment: I started an experiment several months ago and I’m ready to share it from
12 far-out ideas for writing articles or newsletters that turn heads from
10 Little-Known Substack Features That Will Transform How You Write and Grow from
What else I’ve been up to this week
Reading: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (another one of my current favourite books for writers)
Listening to: The Simple Path To Wealth audiobook
Researching: More classic novels to read - or re-read if I haven’t for a decade or more (feel free to send me your recommendations)
Enjoying: My first sea-dip of the year
This week’s Medium post
Friend link, as always, so you can read for free if you’re not a member.
If you’re reading this online and aren’t subscribed yet, please consider a subscription (free or paid).
If you don’t want to subscribe, but do want to show support, you can:
Gift me a book I’d love to read
Buy one of my Success Kits (scroll down for a discount) or my eBook
Check out my recommended resources
Send me good vibes and positive thoughts
Many thanks in advance.
Disclosure: Some of the links in my content all around the web are affiliate links. If you buy through me, I may earn a commission. Find out more here.
P.S. Help yourself to my list of free tools for writers and a 50% discount on my Freelance Writer’s Success Kit (discount is ‘baked in’ at that link - no coupon required).
Medium | Gumroad | My eBook | Popular Posts | Resources For Writers
This was a lovely read. I came across your writing on Medium and I've always enjoyed how good you are linking one posts to another.