As a younger writer, I inadvertently put a lot of pressure on myself that everything I wrote had to be good, and as a result, I was sensitive to constructive feedback. I remember shaking in college the day my creative writing paper was discussed, afraid of what I'd hear. The truth is that I became a much better writer when I opened myself up to feedback and put less pressure on myself. I enjoy writing for fun, and I know that I don't have to share everything with everyone. But when I do share my writing, I welcome constructive criticism. No writer has ever written every single piece perfectly, nor will a writer ever write perfect work exclusively because we're human. When you first start writing, there's a learning curve. When I look back at some of my older works, I can recognize what I'd do differently now--that's because I've grown as a writer. Let yourself enjoy the process, acknowledge that not everything you write will be great (which is normal and okay!), and know that you'll often grow when you receive feedback.
If I could jump into a time machine and provide some advice to my younger self, it would be three things: 1) Write about what you know -- From my first article in 1994 for Scuba Times to my most recent story for Scuba Diving Industry Magazine, writing about travel should always based on personal, first-hand experience. 2) Trust your instincts -- Go with your gut and let your intuition guide you for headlines, subheads, ledes, and your stories. Editors will most always make some tweaks, sometimes more than others, but don't let that stop you from trusting what you think best shapes your stories or provides entertainment for your audience. 3) Always persevere against all odds -- You may get 20 rejections for each story that gets accepted, but the odds will change in your favor once you establish your credentials and build an archive of your achievements.
As a content writer at an infographic design company, I was unaware for a long time that writing for visuals requires a different mindset than traditional content writing. Early on, I would draft text-heavy explanations, assuming that more words meant better clarity. However, I later realized that in infographics, less is more--concise, well-structured text combined with strong visuals creates a far greater impact. For example, in one project about global warming, I initially wrote a detailed paragraph on carbon emissions, but when we condensed it into a single, powerful statistic with a bold visual (e.g., "Carbon levels are the highest in 800,000 years"), engagement skyrocketed. If I could give my younger self advice, I'd say: Write with design in mind--every word should serve the visual, not compete with it.
Keynote Speaker and Author at Helping Others Prepare for Excellence
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For me, it was getting thoughts from others before getting too far into a manuscript. Early in my writing journey I wanted to have the content 75-80% complete before sharing with others. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had shared my ideas sooner to get feedback from others and improve the overall quality of my content. Dr. Spencer Johnson, author of Who Moved My Cheese? and many number one bestsellers, would, before ever writing a book, say to someone, "If I was writing a book about __________________, what would you want to see included in it?" I think that's brilliant. It gives you a clear starting point from which to begin the creative process.
When I first started writing, I didn't fully appreciate the importance of reading widely across different genres and styles. It’s easy to become entrenched in the familiar comfort of your favorite genres, whether it's science fiction, romance, or historical novels. However, stepping outside your reading comfort zone can massively inform and improve your writing style. For example, reading non-fiction can help you ground your fictional work in realism, while delving into poetry can enhance your sensitivity to language's rhythms and nuances. If I were advising my younger self, I'd emphasize the value of patience and the process of rewriting. Early in my career, I underestimated how vital it is to revise and refine a draft, often rushing to complete works without the necessary revisions. This inevitably led to work that wasn’t as polished or impactful as it could have been. A piece of writing truly comes to life during revision, where clarity and depth are honed. So, to my younger self, I’d say: take your time to rewrite and be patient with your progress—the results will be worth the wait.
For years, I wrote like I was proving something--trying to be the smartest person in the room. I'd lace my sentences with fancy words, structure my arguments like a lawyer, and obsess over sounding "polished." Then one day, I got an email that changed everything. A reader replied to an article I had poured my soul into. But instead of praise, it was just one line: "I don't get it." That hit me like a brick. Not because they didn't understand, but because I realized--I had written for myself, not for them. If I could go back, I'd tell myself: "Stop writing to impress. Start writing to connect." The best writing isn't a performance. It's a conversation. The moment I started writing the way I spoke--shorter sentences, natural flow, real emotion--people actually started listening.
As a younger writer, I started off on low-ball content platforms. You know, the ones designed to find the lowest bidder and not necessarily the most quality talent. The thing is, I *loved* these well-structured platforms for other reasons: the guarantee I'd get my payment on schedule, streamlined communication, and great assignment management. No long email threads, no chasing invoices, and no searching for briefs. It was bliss! What wasn't bliss, however, was the pay rates. I thought that content platforms were simply how a writer got their start, and so I moved on to higher paying clients outside of these platforms. But, oh, how I missed the predictability! It was then, still relatively early in my career, that I discovered nDash. nDash is a platform of its own with a great philosophy. The platform is built by writers, for writers. They've got a great payment system in place, and you can set the rates that you feel most comfortable with as a writer. Pitching is easy, and communication is streamlined! I've built great relationships with clients on this platform, and I'll use it for years to come. To my younger self: Don't sell yourself short. Know that you are worthy of being paid the rates you deserve, and you are worthy of having positive client relationships while writing about what you love!
Making a profit in the short term is the best long-term strategy. People say to write what you know and are passionate about, and that sounds correct and more satisfying for your artistic self, but the chances are high that if you take the artistic-first approach, you'll struggle financially as a full-time writer. Instead, if you focus on making a profit with your writing in the short term, then you'll be able to continue being a writer in the long-term, and with that financial freedom you can make your occasional personal project that means more to you. It's similar to how big movie directors work on the films the studio wants them to make, so that every once in a while they can make a passion project. Otherwise, you won't earn enough money to thrive, and you'll either scrape by, rely on your family to survive, or both. You're still a writer either way, but you'll have a higher chance for success with a different approach.