Do you have it in you to write a book? (Part 2)
This month it is one year ago that I started writing on Substack! Time to recap some highlights and lowlights! And I share four lessons I learnt how to make it fun in order to just keep on writing!
Thank you so much for reading and sharing my Substack with others for the past year! Spread the word and the conviction that we are all writers. Simply because you and I are all unique individuals with a unique story to tell.
How did my journey begin?
It all started in March 2023. I was about to spend a few month’s in Finland when the Dutch news was showing an item about Finland ranking, again as the happiest country in the world. ‘How can that be?’ I asked myself. Maybe they put extra happy hormones in their coffee or ice cream? It made me even more excited to go! Soon Frank Martela, philosopher and researcher at Aalto University in Helsinki gave me a reality check. Not only gave Martela good insights about why happiness is just a state of mind. It also got me in contact with Substack.
By that time I had already written for myself and was looking for an online platform where to share my thoughts. On May 12th 2023 I posted my first Substack and sent it to family members and close friends.
If you want to be a writer, you only have to write a little bit every day. Mostly you should brood and do the laundry. - Anne Lamott
Thanks to Anne Lamott I set myself to a harsh regime of writing every day and of course doing the laundry! I read somewhere that if you start on something new, it takes about six weeks of perseverance, before it becomes part of your daily routine. It did. Slowly I formed the idea that it takes five pillars to find back my personal writing style.
At the same time I also fell into a pitfall
By forcing myself to write every day I slowly lost the inspiration to write. The initial energy that writing and sharing gave for me slowly vanished. Besides, I felt I was a bit stuck in my process of finding back my writing style. So I decided to just write a bit of a recap about the topic How to stay a motivated writer
In this Substack I wrote that I had asked friends to send me at least three words. Each word I wrote down on paper and put it in a jar. For almost 7 month’s I took daily one word out of the jar, opened a document or put on the voice recorder and started writing any thought on that word. A good example of an outcome is the piece I wrote on bikes and bridges.
On reading this back I now see that some parts are pretty lengthy! For sure now I would use less words to share the same message. And that is when I realized this is the fun part of writing. Reading back what you wrote. It recalls the time when I wrote it and how I felt. But this particular piece brought back a good memory when I took that photo of the sheep following me while crossing that little bridge on the island of Mustasaari.
Four lessons I learnt how to keep writing fun
Write without expectations and your thoughts will break free from your usual restricted thinking pattern.
Keep on writing without worrying about language or spelling. You will tackle those details later!
Try to experiment to write in a non-native language. You will experience your thoughts slow down and take time to reconsider the content. Sometimes that can help you order the story line or the setting.
If you get stuck, don’t worry! Let it simmer for a while. Days, weeks, does not matter. On re-reading, you will notice fresh insights will pop up in your head.
The bonus tip I have for students who get stuck in writing that important essay. Take a piece of paper and write! Read or listen back to some insights and tips I have previously given on how to get productive through handwriting!
Someone asked me: Anni did you find back your writing style after one year?
A good question and I will tell you next time!