2025 is my year to write consistently and effectively. I want to get better at storytelling, showing not telling, and inspiring readers to take action. All things that you’ve mentioned.
I’m also on the final rewrite of my book that’ll be published this year and it’s a memoir with a editor who’s helping me to make it more of a fiction style showing versus a nonfiction book telling.
My reason for subscribing to your newsletter and why I’m committed to base my business off of writing as the engine. I’ve been denying my initiation into writing because videos and audio are much easier for me. This year it’s changing to feature writing and to become the best possible writer that I can be.
I’ve started to post some articles on my Facebook page about mental health and being a former athlete and they have been well received. I need to take more time and go through another edit or two, but at least I got started in a topic area that is often difficult to discuss yet very much in demand.
By the way, the reason I’m here is because I bought one of Darius‘s books on Kindle a few years ago and then subscribed to his newsletter. So the long game worked with me along with building a relationship.
I look forward to more information and steps and support that you gentlemen are providing. Keep up the good work.
I love that you've chosen the "hard" Tom and are trading in video and audio for writing and embracing the challenge. Your book sounds cool. Have you thought about publishing your articles here or bits of the book on Substack as it's a good place to build a buzz as the platform is full of readers.
The best writing advice I had read and heard in a long time. I listened to your piece. I love - 1)don't kill your darlings and to keep a document of them. 2) block the noise to publish all the time, 3) refine the writing on one platform or area, 4) a writing guru who is just a head of you.
I have always thought marketing our work takes us away from writing.
Writing is a patience game, and a mind game - not to get stuck in all the noise and pump out your writing daily etc.
Thank you for the best advice I have read on writing for the longest time, better than s king. Don't kill your darlings save them - totally love this.
Thank you for this, Michael. Points 3 and 5 spoke loudly to me. Especially, when those teachers become the same ones you can actually get on the phone with. 😊
In a world full of noise, defining your path and handpicking the people who guide and walk alongside you is so important.
And this: “The best part about pursuing artistic pursuits is there’s no such thing as retirement.” hit home. For me, it’s not just about pursuing a passion; it’s about creating a legacy and a template for my kids. Coming from a background where the path was narrowly defined: go to school, get good grades, and secure a white-collar job. It’s liberating to know I’m breaking that narrative.
Living this dream shows my children that they can forge their own paths, pursue their passions, and embrace the possibilities.
This is a gift I’m immensely grateful to give them.
Hello Stella - yes to being selective regarding the people who guide and walk alongside you. As a dad of two little ones - this lesson of who to listen to and spend time with is something we are really trying to instill in them as the challenges (aka noise) they face today is nuts. And I love that you're carving a new path now as a light for your kids to follow.
Hahaha - I love this "not overeat and get bellyache." I guess there is a time to throw our words at the wall like spaghetti to see what sticks, but not my style at all and I tend to read people who publish when they truly have something valuable to say and a story they can't not help but write.
These are really great tips. I have been noticing conflicting tips for writers, but this feels like I have permission to do what works for me - as long as I keep working.
So glad they resonated Sam. Yeah, the whole game is doing what works for you and working at your own pace. Like you said, the key is to keep at it as good things tend to happen the more we walk.
I’ve saved this article, Michael. Many rich ideas with solid tools to bring them into my writing world. Thank you.
Timing is really something, eh? It almost feels as if this was a direct message to me from my guardian angel/writing muse! 🤗 I was observing my stats just yesterday, and daydreaming about whether I was failing by writing only when the powerful thoughts arose. It was exactly one year ago that I first hit publish here in Stacklandia. It has enriched my world every day since.
I decided that I000% agree with you that pushing on the “go faster” pedal will not sustain me in the long run. (And I chuckle because at 71, the long run is no longer a marathon).
Love this Teyani - "slow and steady I grow." I think the big question is why each of us has chosen to write. Is it for audience growth? personal growth? community? These things can obviously change but to me, it sounds like you're having fun and your energy always pops off the page - and that's the win.
Decisions # 3 & 5 (surrounding myself with great teachers and a strong writing community) are the reasons why I decided to buy a Founding Membership for Writing to (L)Earn.
I’ve been publishing consistently since I started writing online in 2024, but I want to take my Creative work to the next level and this post contains the inspiration and advice that I’ve been looking for!
Really helpful for me to get in the right mindset.
Michael - so much goodness in here. And all of them can’t be acted upon with intention immediately. Thank you. I especially love the idea of not killing our darlings but giving them a garden to go hang out in, to be kept alive, and possibly grow into the centerpiece or a supporting role in a different piece. Double thank you. 🙏
This system is yours and works for you. Please stick with it, especially the marketing part, because shifting from quality writing to writing sales pages and calling them articles is not the true you. The best part of this is "sharing five pivotal decisions" because that takes ownership of what you decided instead of advising.
Will do Georgia. I'm not sure which sales pages/articles you're referring to as for each article in this collaboration either Darius, John, or I take the lead. My past ones are on how I wrote story hooks, self-promotion (when you don't like self-promotion), and this one. Unless I've done it, I'm not writing it. A big reason I'm excited about this project is we each bring different expertise.
That’s right, Michael. You do well as a communication strategist and writer. You completed a book. You put your stake in the ground as a storyteller. You are clear and open about how to reach you directly. It’s easy to find you when the time comes to hire you. Your articles deliver value and meaning. You know the difference between a sales page and a story.
2025 is my year to write consistently and effectively. I want to get better at storytelling, showing not telling, and inspiring readers to take action. All things that you’ve mentioned.
I’m also on the final rewrite of my book that’ll be published this year and it’s a memoir with a editor who’s helping me to make it more of a fiction style showing versus a nonfiction book telling.
My reason for subscribing to your newsletter and why I’m committed to base my business off of writing as the engine. I’ve been denying my initiation into writing because videos and audio are much easier for me. This year it’s changing to feature writing and to become the best possible writer that I can be.
I’ve started to post some articles on my Facebook page about mental health and being a former athlete and they have been well received. I need to take more time and go through another edit or two, but at least I got started in a topic area that is often difficult to discuss yet very much in demand.
By the way, the reason I’m here is because I bought one of Darius‘s books on Kindle a few years ago and then subscribed to his newsletter. So the long game worked with me along with building a relationship.
I look forward to more information and steps and support that you gentlemen are providing. Keep up the good work.
I love that you've chosen the "hard" Tom and are trading in video and audio for writing and embracing the challenge. Your book sounds cool. Have you thought about publishing your articles here or bits of the book on Substack as it's a good place to build a buzz as the platform is full of readers.
I guess you’re telling me that needs to be one of my strategies so yes then:))
The best writing advice I had read and heard in a long time. I listened to your piece. I love - 1)don't kill your darlings and to keep a document of them. 2) block the noise to publish all the time, 3) refine the writing on one platform or area, 4) a writing guru who is just a head of you.
I have always thought marketing our work takes us away from writing.
Writing is a patience game, and a mind game - not to get stuck in all the noise and pump out your writing daily etc.
Thank you for the best advice I have read on writing for the longest time, better than s king. Don't kill your darlings save them - totally love this.
Great and sobering advice, thank you!
Great read ⭐️
Thank you Chris. So glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for this, Michael. Points 3 and 5 spoke loudly to me. Especially, when those teachers become the same ones you can actually get on the phone with. 😊
In a world full of noise, defining your path and handpicking the people who guide and walk alongside you is so important.
And this: “The best part about pursuing artistic pursuits is there’s no such thing as retirement.” hit home. For me, it’s not just about pursuing a passion; it’s about creating a legacy and a template for my kids. Coming from a background where the path was narrowly defined: go to school, get good grades, and secure a white-collar job. It’s liberating to know I’m breaking that narrative.
Living this dream shows my children that they can forge their own paths, pursue their passions, and embrace the possibilities.
This is a gift I’m immensely grateful to give them.
Hello Stella - yes to being selective regarding the people who guide and walk alongside you. As a dad of two little ones - this lesson of who to listen to and spend time with is something we are really trying to instill in them as the challenges (aka noise) they face today is nuts. And I love that you're carving a new path now as a light for your kids to follow.
Wonderful advice here. Writing is a long game. People want to savour your thoughtfully curated words not overeat and get bellyache.
Hahaha - I love this "not overeat and get bellyache." I guess there is a time to throw our words at the wall like spaghetti to see what sticks, but not my style at all and I tend to read people who publish when they truly have something valuable to say and a story they can't not help but write.
These are really great tips. I have been noticing conflicting tips for writers, but this feels like I have permission to do what works for me - as long as I keep working.
So glad they resonated Sam. Yeah, the whole game is doing what works for you and working at your own pace. Like you said, the key is to keep at it as good things tend to happen the more we walk.
appreciate ya!
I’ve saved this article, Michael. Many rich ideas with solid tools to bring them into my writing world. Thank you.
Timing is really something, eh? It almost feels as if this was a direct message to me from my guardian angel/writing muse! 🤗 I was observing my stats just yesterday, and daydreaming about whether I was failing by writing only when the powerful thoughts arose. It was exactly one year ago that I first hit publish here in Stacklandia. It has enriched my world every day since.
I decided that I000% agree with you that pushing on the “go faster” pedal will not sustain me in the long run. (And I chuckle because at 71, the long run is no longer a marathon).
Slow and steady I grow.
Love this Teyani - "slow and steady I grow." I think the big question is why each of us has chosen to write. Is it for audience growth? personal growth? community? These things can obviously change but to me, it sounds like you're having fun and your energy always pops off the page - and that's the win.
What a super compliment Michael. Thank you.
I am having fun, indeed. I care about people and connections, creating a community of like minded people for sure.
I write because I have stories to tell, and thoughts to share.
If people connect with me and what I write, all the better!
Decisions # 3 & 5 (surrounding myself with great teachers and a strong writing community) are the reasons why I decided to buy a Founding Membership for Writing to (L)Earn.
I’ve been publishing consistently since I started writing online in 2024, but I want to take my Creative work to the next level and this post contains the inspiration and advice that I’ve been looking for!
Really helpful for me to get in the right mindset.
Love to hear this Marisa and so glad it helped. I got some early wins but the consistency is what opened the most doors.
Michael - so much goodness in here. And all of them can’t be acted upon with intention immediately. Thank you. I especially love the idea of not killing our darlings but giving them a garden to go hang out in, to be kept alive, and possibly grow into the centerpiece or a supporting role in a different piece. Double thank you. 🙏
So glad that point stuck as I'm partial to it also and you summed up the benefits of doing it so much better than I did;).
This system is yours and works for you. Please stick with it, especially the marketing part, because shifting from quality writing to writing sales pages and calling them articles is not the true you. The best part of this is "sharing five pivotal decisions" because that takes ownership of what you decided instead of advising.
Will do Georgia. I'm not sure which sales pages/articles you're referring to as for each article in this collaboration either Darius, John, or I take the lead. My past ones are on how I wrote story hooks, self-promotion (when you don't like self-promotion), and this one. Unless I've done it, I'm not writing it. A big reason I'm excited about this project is we each bring different expertise.
That’s right, Michael. You do well as a communication strategist and writer. You completed a book. You put your stake in the ground as a storyteller. You are clear and open about how to reach you directly. It’s easy to find you when the time comes to hire you. Your articles deliver value and meaning. You know the difference between a sales page and a story.