A Writer I Don't Want To Be!

When I was planning to get married, a friend suggested something that has stuck with me forever-

When you don’t know what kind of a partner you want, think about the kind of partner you don’t want.

It’s easier that way, isn’t it? You may not get everything you want in a single person at the moment. But you can easily rule out the things you can’t stand! Her advice helped me find my now husband, who is more than I ever wished for.

The point of telling you this? So many of us struggle to envision our ultimate goals as a writer. We want traction, money, and virality, but we also want to tell stories and be authentic, not salesy.

What if we applied my friend’s advice to our writing goals too?

Instead of wishing for everything, why not rule out the things we absolutely don’t want to do?

Here’s my list of things I’m against. That means I don’t want to be a writer-

1. Who doesn’t build in public

If I get a dollar for each time I read a post that starts with ‘ 4 things to do to write effectively,’ I’d be a billionaire by now.

Don’t get me wrong. This kind of thing still works if you’ve massive credibility under your belt, but if not, you’re wasting your energy writing generic stuff.

I don’t want to be yet another writer who prats along with the crowd. I want to share my real journey. I want to share what I’m learning. I want to share my wins, yes. But even more, I want to share my failures to give my audience a complete picture of what is working for me and what is not.

People are tired of generic stuff. Plus they can easily get it with the help of AI.

They want a real connection. They want to know how YOU did it. Don’t tell them 4 strategies to write well. Tell them how YOU write, Don’t tell them 6 books on writing to read, tell them which books YOU find helpful.

But it’s not easy in the beginning. I’ve had many instances when self-doubt gripped me and pushed me into the rabbit hole of imposter syndrome. I thought I was crazy about sharing my story. I was just starting out. Why would anyone listen to me, a beginner?

The secret lies in believing you have the value to give to the world. Even if you’re a beginner, you’ve all that needs to be said.

What’s obvious to you may not be for others!

I’ll be honest, though. To date, I don’t think I’ve done a good job of building in public. But I’m improving.

2. Who doesn’t take risks

The last time I released a product was in January 2023. It did well than the first one which was an absolute flop. But not so well that I’d say I succeeded.

What happened next?

I started playing safe. I told myself, I was just focusing on creating content. But in reality, I was playing safe. I was terrified of releasing a third flop product.

But playing safe is the biggest risk ever. It’s the easiest way to drown in the online noise. If you want to stand out, you need to take the plunge.

So, taking up my own advice, I started working on a new product finally. I don’t know if it will work out. I don’t know if it’s the right product.

All I know is I’m betting on myself, one more time. And that’s enough to bring value to my audience.

3. Who doesn’t follow her own path

I’ve spent months in the past,

• comparing my journey to that of others
• trying to be someone else online
• drowning in self-doubt
• almost giving up.

All of it had led me to stop believing in my skills and the value I can bring to the table. I stopped finding any meaning in churning out articles every week.

But the thing is, writing gives me joy like no other. When I think of giving up, I realize I’d have nothing to look forward to in my life anymore.

That’s when I came back with a conviction that I would focus on my own progress rather than others'. My audience would be my home. I would write for them, focus on their problems, and create solutions for them.

I’ll follow my own path.

4. Who doesn’t serve her readers.

It’s easy to write for your own enjoyment. But when results elude you, it gets harder and harder.

The day I started posting on Linkedin, I felt immense gratitude towards the people who liked my posts back then. Even when there were just 8–10 likes, I was genuinely grateful!

That feeling continues to live in my heart even today. I feel immense gratitude towards those who carve out minutes from their precious time, just to read the stuff I publish.

Yes. I’ve been distracted by the numbers before, but I could continue to write only because I have a deep sense of service towards my readers, however few they are.

My mission is accomplished even if one person learns something valuable from my posts.

Lastly,

So many creators find so many ways to grow online. There is no one correct path. This also means too many distractions for beginners. It’s not easy anymore to envision what you want to achieve as a creator. There are too many options.

But after spending 3 years online, I know what kind of a writer I DON’T want to become.

What about you?

Want to improve your craft? Join Creator’s Cubby where I share everything I’ve learned about writing online, building an audience, and more.