99% Chances Are That You Are Committing These 7 Mistakes As a Beginner Writer | by Lipika Sahu | The Startup | Mar, 2023

And what to do to switch over to the remaining 1%

And don’t sweat it out already because we all make them— mistakes.

Having done numerous consulting sessions, I have noticed these common traits that beginner writers do that hamper their writing career. And frankly, they are not to be blamed.

With an impressionable mind like a child, they enter this vast arena of the content creation world, fascinated by the fame and success of many. And like a delightful fuzzy pup, lap up everything doing the rounds.

Trust me; I feel you because it’s difficult — to know what’s best for you.

So, let me jot down that list for you to check if you, too, are guilty as charged and make a move quickly.

Ouch! It might hurt you where it hurts the most…you-know-where.

Are you creating platforms on too many social platforms simultaneously?

You should go back to your war room and rethink your strategy. Please understand this:

Your attendance doesn’t matter.

People think that just being on the platform is what counts. Nope. You have to be consistent on the platform and create value posts for the audience to connect with you.

Why you shouldn’t do that:

• Creating meaningful content takes time (for a beginner). Hence, managing many platforms might be a tough job.
• And consistently doing that across platforms is too much to ask in the initial days.
• Again, every platform has a unique disposition. You must customize your content accordingly. Again, it needs time.

So, here’s what to do instead:

1. Choose one platform. If you like long-form, choose something like Medium or Quora. And if short, then LinkedIn or Twitter.
2. Create content consistently and build a community. Build credibility. Feed the algorithm and witness the growth.
3. And once you have decent traction, use this platform to boost the next one.

• By using its audience to divert to your new platform.
• Repurpose the ready content of the existing platform for the next one.
• Showcase your credibility built in the first podium to garner a faster following in the second.

This is a much more effective and result-oriented strategy.

This word must be haunting you by now. And most of the time stops you from discovering the real writer within you.

Ditch the niche.

Well, initially, at least. Eventually, you will arrive at that sweet spot where everything aligns with your creative process. But don’t burden yourself with a niche from the word ‘go.’

So, here’s what to do instead:

1. Discover your writing preferences. Write on ALL the topics that interest you. Trust me, as a newbie, hardly any eyes are on you—a fantastic reason to go skinny-dipping.
2. Keep an eye on the engagement level. Which topics are getting the maximum reactions? Which stories are getting more views? What is your audience asking you? These are the breadcrumbs of your niche.
3. Among these, which of the topics interests you? It’s important because you are going to do this for a looooong time. You better like it.
4. This might take time, but stick with the process.

Long story short — go with the flow now till you get there. And you will. Eventually, it will surface.

Guilty!!

Ever seen that greedy squirrel stuffing too much food into its mouth that sometimes it can’t pass through the way in? I was that. And I am sure many of you are smiling thinking of yourselves.

Name it, and I was trying my hand — media designing, printables, low-content books, blogging, YouTube videos (yes, I have made a couple), etc., etc.

But I forgot one essential thing:

Every activity demanded that I be consistent , and being consistent meant time.

I couldn’t have possibly juggled too many hats.

So, here’s what to do instead:

1. First, list things you feel you will be interested in in the long run.
2. Pick 2 or max 3 things. It’s better if they are related. Like I chose to design on Canva because it helps me with my LinkedIn content creation — carousels, banners, profile, etc.
3. And shelve the rest for later. You are always free to choose new projects after you have mastered some.

I will be the last person to tell you to stop experimenting, adding skill sets, or learning something new. I am too much into it. But, as a beginner, we do not have the luxury of doing too much all at a time.

So, prioritize and grow.

Again, driven by the notorious force — number, beginner writers are always in a hurry to put one more story out there. As a result, they forget the most essential element of writing that they need to hone.

Writing is the shitty part; the magic happens in Editing.

Many of my clients tell me — I have written over 20 stories now. Why am I not getting any traction?

I ask — Of those, how many have you edited thrice?

I rarely get an answer to that. But, you see, it is better to have 3 excellent stories than 10 average ones. And the best part is that with time and practice, you can spin 10 really good ones in a very short time.

But for now, as beginners, focus on editing more than writing.

So, here’s what to do instead:

1. Shift your focus from publishing the story as soon as possible to editing it one more time.
2. It is not a number game of how many stories. The earlier you acknowledge the importance of editing, the better you will get at writing great stories.
3. Write your stories. Let them rest. Come back and revisit the same with a fresh perspective. And cleanse it some more.

As beginners, it is the easiest to fall into this apeing pit. Yes, we grew out of being monkeys and ditched the tail, but apeing — now, that’s something we are yet to shed.

I am talking about copying other writers. I have been a newbie, and I have also tried that. But it became very strenuous, and I said no. Thank God!

Let me say it out loud — you can never copy someone. That’s not happening.

So, here’s what to do instead:

1. Get inspired. Pick and choose elements from other writers that you think will help accentuate your writing. Like I picked quirkiness from Tim Denning, clarity from Ayodeji Awosika, human element from Zulie Rane, and Niharikaa Kaur Sodhi. Pick yours.
2. Don’t lose your inherent voice because that’s the best you have. The moment you try to sound like someone else, you are doomed. You will be thrown out of the race.
3. Keep your trust in the fact that this world has enough and more audience for every kind of voice — keep yours.

No. It. Will. Not.

I am not against courses. They are good and save you a lot of time trying to learn things on your own.

But what after that? Many clients come to me after one or two courses and still say they did not get the results. I know where that is heading.

The problem is not in doing the course; the problem is not implementing it.

Knowing will not help you. Doing it will help you. Yes, it might be disastrous at first, but that’s the learning curve for you. When you started learning as kids, your letters were indecipherable. Are they still so? (well, maybe if you are a doctor….just a joke)

So, here’s what to do instead:

1. Practice. Practice. Practice.
2. Some more practice.
3. And some more.

There is no shortcut here. You have to get down and dirty, my friend. And take those splotches as badges of honor.

Okay, this one is important.

Numbers are for our convenience, but we always tend to quantify everything — including the immeasurable like effort and success.

Comparing yourself to others and measuring every effort in quantifiable numbers(likes, claps, reactions, shares, etc.)is a quicksand that will suck you up quickly and never spit you out.

It’s unfair — comparing your day 1 to someone’s day 379! It will never be the same.

So, here’s what to do instead:

1. Look for the right set of numbers — how long is it taking for you to come up with a story, how long did you invest in the trade, go for 30-day challenges or sorts, etc. Are you getting the drift?
2. Make the numbers all about yourself. Measure YOUR growth, not others.
3. Because it is your parameters you can control, not anyone else’s — focus on that and that alone.

Remember — YOU are all that matters.

Frankly, I have a couple more that I could have thrown into the list, but then it would have been a drag and a tad demotivating, I guess…like nitpicking new writers.

But, I swear, my heart is in the right place when I tell you these things. I wish someone would have done that for me.

And let me walk the talk by giving you some amplifiers for your work.

A bouquet of 15 writing exercises that tone your writing muscle: here.

A glossary of power words to enhance your headline game: here.

A 30-Day writing journal with writing prompts: here.

And some more such stuff here.

Happy writing!!