Issue #5: Writing Workshop - Key Takeaways

This Sunday, I saw a post online. A post that was inviting us to a writing workshop organized by Ivan N. and it was intriguing to me, since it was the first writing training I would be writing since I started writing in 2018. When the time came, I went there and it was exceptional. I learned a lot, took notes and I can't wait to see new strategies I learned there working for me.

In today's article, I will share my key takeaways. They can apply to writing, but you can use them in other creative work as well.

Why are you writing?

Before writing anything, why do you want to write anyway? If you don't know your why, it is okay. Write, but as you write try to figure out. When I was starting out, I did not know why. My uncle told me about blogging, and the next day, I started a blog. He told me I can use it to get clients for my IT work, but when I tried to write tech related posts, it was not working. When I started writing about my personal opinions, I was enjoying it and felt like home. I did not have a reason to write, I wrote just because I felt like it.

Later I deleted all my blogs and started writing on Facebook, after one year, I stopped and later moved here on LinkedIn. Why am I sharing this? When you don't have a why, it becomes so hard for you to be consistent. Today, I write because if I don't I cannot handle the weight of my content, and because I believe I have something to pass on to my kids, and if I am not there, they will at least have a piece of my mind available to them, it keeps me writing. So, as you write, try to answer this question, why are you writing?

How do you get an inspiration?

Everytime I sit and do nothing, ideas starts flowing. And if I do not catch it, I forget. This made me learn to take notes, and this is one of the things Ivan touched on. When we write, we are not inventing, we are just expressing our being in the world. Ideas comes from observing our environments and expressing it in our perspective. Ivan gave an example of how two people can talk about one idea, but express it in different ways because we all have our unique voices.

If ideas do not come naturally to you, he gave prompts that might help you generate ideas. Scenario prompts like asking, "What if..." questions and giving your answers, Word prompts, which is like choosing a word, and start writing what you think on the word, and Emotional prompts which is expressing feelings. There are so many ways to generate ideas, but you have to remember that no idea is small. When ideas come, write all you can think of, and edit later.

Tell Stories.

In one of my articles, I shared why you should tell stories. Life exists through stories and our ancestors exists when we tell their stories. Someone said, "Every person dies twice. The first time is when they bury you, the last time is when someone mentions your name for the last time." In ideas you share, add analogies, share your personal stories, share stories you know, and share details, as Ivan said, details make stories come to life. I love watching movies, and I can tell you, the best movies are the ones that feel like they have life.

Think about this, if you are sharing something that everyone already knows. How do you make sure that your version is unique and feels new? You can add stories that no one have heard of before, or create analogies that reflects your own voice. There is nothing new under the sun, but your perspective is unique and the best way to get people to relate is though stories.

Something interesting I learned was to tell stories and describe with all senses, how it looks, how it smells, how it sounds, how it tastes, how it feels, this system sounded to me like a good way to form stories.

To be a good writer, Write!

I have tens of article in my drafts and the reason I keep them is because I want to release them when I feel like they are perfect. But, the truth is, they will never be perfect. This was a reminder that you can only grow when you do something and receive criticism and feedback. If the reason you are not starting to do what you want is the fear of not being ready, just start. You will never be ready. Write everyday, and read. Ivan said, "All writers are good readers, but not all readers are good writers."

Write every day. Even if it is for one minute, write when you feel like it or when you don't. You become a writer through writing, experience is not taught, it is obtained. I like to say, "Big is many smalls." Write small today, write small tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, you will be very big. Maya Angelou said, “You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

"Ntukiyime ukwima ahari"

It means, "If there is someone to reject you, do not reject yourself.". So many times, we do not charge people for what we are doing. Either we do not understand its value, we are afraid that people will leave if you ask them to pay, or it is not your goal, in which case you will not even think of charging people. After sharing all his experience, he gave us his number, and said, if you got value in this workshop, transfer any amount you want on my number. It wasn't a workshop fee, it wasn't mandatory, but he said, even though we love doing this, we have to keep lights on.

Learning from this, if you find value in my content, please consider buying me a coffee. Understanding the value of your work is important and sometimes people are willing to help, but they can't if you don't ask.

It is not possible for me to cover everything I learned there. All speakers shared valuable experiences that are useful to a writer, but if you will go home with anything, let it be that, to be a great writer, start writing, understand why you are writing, tell stories, be present, take notes, join communities, and don't hold back to charge for your work. These were a great reminders for me, and I am glad to have been there. Consider subscribing to my newsletter as I will be sharing more ideas to inspire, and helping us grow. Which advice reasonates with you the most?

Cheers!