7 Brutal Truths That Are Painful To Hear (But Will Help You Become A Top Writer)

7 harsh truths that will help you grow (if you can bear them)

Writing doesn’t have to be so hard.

I’ve created 14 simple templates and cheat sheets that helped me write faster and with more impact. These tools helped me grow to 24,000 followers and $3500/month. Now I’m sharing them with you.

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Ok now brace yourself.

Because I’m giving you a cold plunge. Brutal I know. But trust me it’ll leave you feeling refreshed and energized.

Writing online is a tough game. You don’t have the luxury of cuddly comforts. You need every edge you can get. So let me be crystal clear on the action you must take. And what you should quit wasting your time with.

So if you’re feeling brave, let’s dive in.

1. Consistently writing bad stuff takes you nowhere

Consistency is the key right?

This is the staple of writing advice. Sending hundreds of wannabee writers off into the wilderness. Like a boy scout with a treasure map out of a cereal box. It gets you nowhere.

Write every day for a year. Offering bland, irrelevant advice and oodles of cliches. What a waste of time. There are no prizes for effort. (Inconsistency isn’t the answer either).

Be relentless in getting better. Consistent improvements eat consistency for breakfast. Don’t overwhelm yourself with pressure. We’re not looking for overnight perfection. But improve every week. Devote yourself to the best advice you can find. Apply it every day for a month.

Do this for a year. And you’ll become a stunning writer.

2. Machete those cryptic headlines

I read a ‘clever’ article yesterday.

The author had a revelation. She criticized clickbait titles with numbers or promises. She uses quirky titles to lure readers in. Wow, I thought I need to check this out.

Scrolled her last 10 articles. I had no idea what any of them were about. Apparently neither did anyone else. Because hardly anyone had read them.

Be careful who you take advice from.

Stop using cryptic headlines that make no sense. Stop being afraid of the clickbait boogie monster. Being clever makes it impossible for people to feel the urge to click.

So they don’t.

Make your headline so easy to understand that a stoned teenager who hasn’t slept in 3 days can understand it. Make it clear why they should click. Promise to solve a problem.

Nail the headline or go home.

3. Take the blame for failing

If no one’s reading your stuff guess whose fault it is

Growing online is not unfair. It’s the most equitable place in the world. You write. If people like it. They engage with it. Then it gets shown to more people. There’s no big boss favoring their mates. And locking you out.

If your stuff doesn’t get passed on. It’s because people don’t like it.

But I’ve got good news. You get to change this. Look at the numbers. Try stuff. Learn from it. Tweak and try again. Analyze open rates, views, clicks, comments, and shares. These all tell you different things.

The algorithm is for you. She wants you to succeed. But don’t write for her. She isn’t even a person (or female). In fact, stop asking what the algorithm wants.

And write for people instead.

4. Quit the impressive writing

There’s only one writing rule. There are no rules.

Break up your sentences. Use title case or sentence. Bullets or long paragraphs. 3 or three. Do whatever you want. It’s your writing.

But if you want to be read. Write for readers. And they skim-read. Glancing at their phone while peeing. They don’t have the energy for mental gymnastics. So make it simple.

Easy to read gets read.

5. Action is the only thing that matters

Too many ‘writers’ do everything but write.

• Reading about the thing is not doing the thing

• Talking about the thing is not doing the thing

• Commenting about the thing is not doing the thing

• Watching videos about the thing is not doing the thing

• Saying you’re going to do the thing is not doing the thing

• Signing up for newsletters about the thing is not doing the thing

Writers who succeed write. There is no other way.

6. No one’s watching you.

Failing writers have this secret fear.

They think their friends, family, and boss are constantly googling their names to see what they’re up to. They’re not.

The harsh truth is no one is reading.

People are obsessed with their own lives. They don’t have time to get interested in yours. Those friends that claim to love your stuff? They read one piece. And then forget all about it. They’re too busy living their life.

Your worst writing comes when you fixate on who might be reading. But if no one’s watching. Guess what! You’re free to write whatever you want.

Writing that takes risks. Fizzes with energy. Brims with emotion. Rare vulnerability. This is what changes your life. And attract readers to your life like a house-sized irresistible magnet.

7. Be a bit spicy

In case you haven’t heard AI is taking over the internet.

Busy cooking up bland ready meals. To satisfy hungry consumers. So if you’re beige. Regurgitating generic content a 6-year-old could generate from ChatGPT. You’re finished.

You don’t have to be outrageous like a certain US President. But please say something interesting. Offer a unique solution. Tell your story. Be real and vulnerable.

We all have something to offer. So let it out.

Derek

PS. If you want writing to be easier, get all my templates today.