Audrey Knox’s Post

If you’re a writer and you think writing is challenging You’re a good writer But if you’re a non-writer who perceives writing as difficult It’s because you don’t know how to write Let’s focus on the former part: - Writers are often sensitive observers. They keenly notice emotions and nuances. This makes it difficult for them to articulate their experiences and thoughts precisely as they perceive them. - They have the highest standards for their work. They strive for excellence and clarity, which makes the process arduous. - They consistently engage in refining and revising their work. This iterative process of rearranging sentences, searching for the right words, and refining the structure can be mentally demanding. - As writers, they bear the weight of expectations to create something meaningful, original, and engaging. It adds yet another layer of challenge. Therefore, just because someone is proficient at something doesn’t mean it’s easy for them It only implies they’re familiar with the process. PS. Writing is a challenging endeavor, even for the most adept writers. PPS. Please note that this concept is not universal. Refer to PPPS. PPPS. Writing has been effortless for writing geniuses - those who considered it a “powerful overflow of spontaneous feelings” - think Mirza Ghalib and Shakespeare, for instance. However, such writers are exceptions. #writing #writersonwriting #writerscommunity ------------------------------------------------------------------- 👋Hi, I talk about philosophy and writing  ✍️I write to inform. I write to promote mindfulness and conscious living. I write to illuminate the obscure corners of thought.  🔔I also have a bell icon on my profile. It rings when you click on it. 

This is how I handle criticism as a writer. I think it is the best known way. #writing 107 When I started #writing, I would cry whenever a client was displeased with my work. One incidence that comes to mind now as I type was really bad. I wrote on a niche I had never written on before. Before execution, I told the client that this particular niche was not my strength and in fact I have never written anything on it before. Because he trusted my expertise(I am of the school of thought that believes that as a writer, you should know how to write anything), he assigned me the project. I told him he would have to give a bit longer than 24 hours as I would be doing a lot of research. He agreed, I started. Trust me when I say I gave it my all. From sleepless nights to restless afternoons, the job was completed in two days. I read the article aloud. I sent it to someone else. I read it again. There was no better way I could have written this, i said to myself. I started ‘feeling’ myself. I sent the document to the client and received the shock of my life. It was just a sentence. “I don't like it. It's too generic” Ah. But Oga, na you give me topic na. I started to cry. He could have been nicer and more specific about what he didn't like, I thought. I started to feel like a failure. Imposter syndrome did its magic. “Do I really know how to write?” “Am I as good as I claim?” “Is this a facade?” Thankfully, a friend (who is also a writer) called. After narrating the ordeal to him, he said something that changed the way I handled criticism forever. He said “Your client has a problem with your work, not you. He should have communicated that better but when you learn to detach yourself from your work, these things would no longer get to you”. Aha! It made so much sense. Since then, I tell everyone that cares to listen. As #writers and #creatives in general we tend to have an emotional connection with what we create and this is understandable. But the sooner we realize the need to detach, the better we would handle #criticisms better and more objectively without sentiments. I hope this helps. ©Glory Essah #glorycanwrite #writingjourney

Benefits of writing for oneself This has often been emphasised by regular writers. They have also become better writers because of it. Some of the primary and significant reasons why one should write for themselves can be summarised as follows:  1. We hold on to hidden, complex emotions and subconscious thoughts which might not be clear to us naturally. When we write, we can dig into such emotions and see what we are truly feeling. Is there something more to our thoughts? Is there something more to what we think we are feeling? Is there a past association with it? We tend to subconsciously link the present to a past event. There are patterns that get repeated. We might have gone through a similar situation before, and the emotions we felt back then might have been triggered at present. Writing would help us unravel those. And our thinking would achieve clarity in this manner. And we would know ourselves better.  2. When our thinking achieves clarity, we can make better decisions. If we are facing a problem and we decide to write about it, we will be able to dissect it and analyse it better. And before long we might even have the answer during this process of analysing.  3. When we are overburdened with too many thoughts at once, our anxiety gets triggered. We can balance it by letting go of the mess while writing. When we write to understand ourselves and see things more clearly in the process, we can easily let go of the worries or thoughts that do not serve us or are affecting us negatively.  4. There’s no pressure to achieve a goal while writing for oneself. Oftentimes the thought of the end result plagues us and makes us rush the process. Or we become too engrossed in making things perfect. But when we write for ourselves, we have freedom. This freedom might lead to better creativity. We can get into a free flow without worries. We might have even come up with something valuable and worth sharing with the public.  5. It helps us experiment with our writing styles, forms, and methods. Even when we have ideas we fail to execute them because at times we aren’t sure if they would be worth sharing. And in this way, we might refuse to work on them and before long those would just reside in our bare notebooks, not ever seeing the light of the day. However, we can choose to work on those ideas privately and see for ourselves how the execution, or the final result looks on paper. This would help us to understand if the idea has been worthy enough to get released into the public domain. If we are content with the final result ourselves, we might also satisfy someone else with it. Or our own satisfaction would work wonders and hone our creative senses further. #writingcommunity #writingtips #writing #freelancewriting #writinglife

📝💡 Breaking Through Writer's Block: Embrace the Therapeutic Power of Writing! 🌟 Hey writers! 🖊️ Struggling with that dreaded writer's block? Let's unravel the mystery and rediscover the joy of creative expression. 🎈Take Breaks: Sometimes, stepping away from your writing can provide clarity and renewed perspective. Take breaks to recharge your creative energy—read, watch movies, travel, or indulge in hobbies that inspire you. ❤️Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself during periods of writer's block. Understand that it's a natural part of the creative process. Celebrate small victories and embrace the journey, knowing that every word written is a step forward. 🫂Writing for Yourself: Writing should be a personal journey of exploration and self-discovery. Embrace the idea that your first audience is YOU. Use writing as a tool to process emotions, explore ideas, or simply escape into imaginary worlds. Let your creativity be a sanctuary. 🗒️Embrace the Blank Page: I once wrote a poem titled , 'Dead paper is a relief to my mind'. Don't be afraid of a blank page. It's for you to explore🤸🏾♂️Start with freewriting exercises or journaling to unlock your thoughts and ignite inspiration. I recommend the #theartistsway by #JuliaCameron it's a good book with practical exercises for creatives of any kind 🕊️Journal : Just write! Whether it's a childhood memory, a current obsession, or a dream you can't shake—write from the heart. It doesn't have to make sense. Remember it's for you and no one else! Explore your emotions, thoughts and even actions. For me this helps me navigate growth 🍀 ✍🏾Write What You Know (and Explore What You Don’t): While the phrase "write what you know" is often debated, it's more about infusing authenticity into your writing. Draw from personal experiences, emotions, and observations to enrich your storytelling. At the same time, don't be afraid to research and explore new topics—it expands your horizons and adds depth to your narratives. 🌍✨ Remember, writing is a journey of self-expression and discovery. Embrace the therapeutic power of words, write from your heart, and trust in your unique voice. Let's inspire each other to break through writer's block and unleash our creativity! 🌟📖 What are your favorite strategies for overcoming writer's block? Share your experiences or tips that have helped you on your writing journey. Together, let's encourage and support each other in our quest for creative fulfillment! 🌈💫 #WritingCommunity #WritersBlock #CreativeWriting #selahwrites #TherapeuticWriting #Inspiration

Inspiration is for amateurs. Professional writers put in the work and get it done. And this mindset is more of a mental space. You can get into this state of mind as you write more and more! There's no hack or shortcut to getting here; you just need to get through all those garbage drafts—everyone goes through them! There are a few things I know professional writers do more often: • They don't make a big deal about writing in their minds. • They show up and just get things done on paper. • Sometimes, it takes an hour to get started, occasionally, a couple - but it gets better. • They're non-judgmental about their work. • They don't sit and question their work or think they're non-talented, and all the jazz that non-creative people believe will make them perfectionists in their writing. • They know whatever they've written is not final. They can change everything when they edit it. • They don't get melodramatic about and fuss about the artistic struggle. Writer's Fuss = Procrastination! • They don't wait for inspiration. They know that their current work will inspire the work they will produce in the future. • Writing one sentence can inspire you to write the next sentence, then the next, and so on. • Ideas you write and trash because they don't work today will come back to you in different forms in future stories. Everything you write compounds your experience as a writer. • They know that the real constructive criticism is the one they'd get from the people playing in the same arena (other writers), so they don't take any other feedback too seriously. • They learn from other writers' processes but mould the process in their own way. Contrivance is not just a story-killer; it's a writer-killer. To add some fiction writing flavour, "Don't get emotional while writing; Learn to use your emotions to write effective stories!" I call it a Writer's Emotional Intelligence. PC - MidJourney (v6) • I never look so happy while writing (sometimes after I finish the draft). But then, I just wanted to imagine something different on Midjourney. • I speak like my characters and enjoy the moment sometimes. My friends and family called me out about it. • And then, I discovered (in an interview) that Aaron Sorkin did it 👆 too. Now, I imitate my characters all the time while writing! I hope this post gives you the Sunday inspiration we all need sometimes. --- To learn more about writing fiction, subscribe to my weekly (free) newsletter - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝 (link in comments).

Have you craved creativity as a writer Are you craving creativity like you would for sugar?  Creativity is all about getting new ideas to do something. From my experience,  you can't become the writer you have craved to be if you don't get new ideas to write. Now, you should understand that there isn't any guarantee that creativity is something you can get more often. You can discover it now and then it disappears. Hence,  it hinders many aspiring writers from moving forward. I know you have a fixed place you write at home or elsewhere and you may have arranged it to look beautiful and appetising to the eyes. This is quite good on its own. However,  in case new ideas don't flow as often as you wish.  There is something you can do. Because I do it and it works perfectly for me and this is why I introduce it to you, in case you need creativity. What is this all about,  it is all about you writing in different areas of your house for certain days and you will notice a spark in your creativity. Does it sound weird or strange? To be frank I’m not the person that generated this idea. I have heard it from different famous writers.  The only thing I did was to implement it and I discovered it worked for me. Therefore,  to generate new ideas to write, you should not stick to one method. Take a note, jotter or your preferred method, and write on your sofa, bed, balcony or somewhere outside your much-preferred position. I have got ideas also while on the bus, train etc. Ideas can strike anywhere. That's the point.  In short, try it because writing involves new ideas flowing into your mind. And there is no one way of doing it. I'm Emmanuel I. Oparaocha, a writer and I encourage you with words to grow and be your best. This is my Thursday tip for you if you yearn for new ideas to improve your writing. #writingtip #writing #writer

AS A WRITER, MY GREATEST FEAR IS WRITING Hey, don't get me wrong. I love writing. Writing is fun and what I do professionally, but... There's always a but, right? Thinking of writing scares me. I'm sure I'm not the only writer who gets anxious about a project. Look, this is NOT because I'm incapable of writing great pieces(I believe that even the greatest writers get a little bit nervous when given a task), but it's mostly because I'm a perfectionist and I would hate to not get even the tiniest detail right. Each time I get a new task, I get mixed feelings of excitement, motivation and anxiety. This is because I always want to give it my all. Client Satisfaction is of utmost importance to me; it's my priority. And oh, the thought of not accurately actualizing my client's vision gives me shivers. Come on, I know I'm not alone. I mean, I read a post from an amazing Writer I recently started following on this app, Mustufa Khan. In the post, he said: "I have five years of experience in writing. Yet everytime I get a new project, I feel anxious". This is true for many great writers. As long as you do not allow that anxiety or fear to transition into extreme self-doubt, you're good. One of the ways I deal with that initial fear is by letting myself know that it's okay to be a little bit nervous or anxious(I'm only human), but I shouldn't let that fear surpass my desire to write or my belief in my skill(s). How do you deal with yours?

🧱 Much has been written about 'writer's block'. Some argue it doesn't exist, that's it's just a matter of sitting down to write each day and keeping going no matter how tough it is. Others suggest it's real and that it could even be a permanent state of affairs. I sit somewhere in the middle.  I believe writers can have periods where writing is difficult, but rather than being a situation that descends unexpectedly and for no reason, it happens as a result of stresses, pressures and distractions in our lives. 💡So what can we do if we find ourselves in this position? • Well, first of all, try to stay positive. If you're in a writing slump, it may feel like you'll never write again. But trust me, you will. Maintaining an optimistic outlook will help greatly. • Be kind to yourself. Berating yourself for failing to make progress toward your writing ambitions will only lead to more frustration and ultimately hinder your attempts. Take the time you aren't writing to do something nice for yourself. • Reframe how you refer to it. Calling it 'writer's block' makes it seem more powerful. If you talk to others about it, just say you aren't writing much at the moment and leave it at that. • Accept it. There is a lot of peace to be gained from doing so. It doesn't mean you like what is happening just that you aren't wasting precious energy resisting it. If you are in the writing doldrums, I hope this will give you some encouragement. Or if you know of someone who could benefit from my post, please share. Equally, if you have your own suggestions, I'd love to hear them. #writersblock #coaching #writing   ------------------ I'm Tracey, a freelance editor and book coach specialising in historical fiction (including gothic and myth based fiction), adult fairy tales and memoir. I help writers fulfil their writing potential by removing the blocks and insecurities that often lead to frustration and a lack of progress. Follow my profile if you would like to see more of my tips in your feed or find me at www.traceychick.co.uk Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

How harsh do you judge your writing? As a writer myself, I know you barely give yourself grace. But here’s something to learn from a recent project I did. ↝ P.S. I’m also proofreader and editor. The Story: While battling the flu, I wrote some articles for a client. One article was returned for me to fix some errors. These are errors I didn't see, even after reviewing my work. Of course, I was disheartened at first. But after reflecting, I realized it wasn't as severe as I'd made it out to be. I was the only one being excessively hard on myself. Despite the errors, my work was creative, engaging, well-researched and informative. Now, I'm not suggesting that it's acceptable to overlook errors in your work. I am, however, emphasizing that minor mistakes are easily rectifiable. Besides, we all make mistakes. That said, It's crucial to cut ourselves some slack. When you are too hard on yourself, you end up doubting your potential and that lack of confidence can be reflected in your next projects. To avoid that: ↴ - Stop being a perfectionist. - Appreciate the writing process for what it is. - And learn to handle negative feedback positively. If this resonates with you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or share the post to inspire others. #writerslife #writer #writingtips

8 Funny Misconceptions About Being A Writer. You know misconceptions are faulty opinions right? There are many misconceptions about writer. As one who read English and literary studies, I had my own misconceptions that was borne out of what people said. But I have realized that misconceptions are borne out of personal thoughts and understanding. It does not hold water. So allow me debug some misconceptions you have about writer. ~ Writing comes easily; It's just to have an idea and voila 🤣. The easiest may be having an idea but developing the idea into tens of hundreds or thousands of word is the main work. Not for the faint hearted. ~ Writing is a natural thing. You're born with it. Well, some may have natural flair for it while others learn about it but whatever be the case, you still need to put in the work by learning more. ~ Writers are loners and only talk with their non existent characters; that we spend lots of time writing doesn't mean we don't have friends or family we talk to. ~ You need a degree to be a writer. You don't need a degree to be a writer but a degree can come handy. I still desire to get my MFA in Creative writing. ~ The life of a writer is easy and full of breaks and holidays. Lol. You wish 😂 ~ The best work has already been written. You can't beat Shakespeare nor Soyinka. That's limiting to say though. ~ Writing depends on inspiration only. Well you get the inspiration but you need tons of research to turn it into something worth binging on. You can't depend on inspiration only to write a good book. ~ Nobody still reads written works and writing won't make you rich. If this is true, why are you reading this now? 🤭 Are there other misconceptions about writing you've heard? Tell us in the comment section. I'd love to read. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Not everybody can be a writer or storyteller. Let me help you tell your brand story in a way that compels your audience. Hit me up Chinaza and click on the 🔔 to get notified when there's new post. #writerslife #thrivewithtomide #30DaysLinkedIntourwithtomide #writersmisconceptions #creativewriting