Hello there,
On a sunny but freezing winter day, I found myself walking under the bright sunlight, lost in thoughts about the things I wanted to do. Lately, my mind has been consumed with the things I’ve left unfinished, almost to the point of obsession.
I’ve realized that I want more from life than just working the daily grind, getting through tasks, and collecting a paycheck. The monotony feels suffocating like an invisible tether tying me down. Every morning, the thought of sitting at my desk weighs heavily on me. It’s far from comfortable.
One of the things I want to do to free myself is to write. I want to write more, hone my craft, and use it as a means to express myself and share my thoughts with others. I would appreciate receiving different perspectives or even constructive arguments in return. After all, my own perspective is only a single lens among countless others. I want to weave my experiences and reflections into the stories and topics I write about. I love storytelling, and my hope is to make my stories engaging enough that readers feel their time was well spent with me.
But with so many chaotic ambitions swirling in my mind, I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve made countless lists, scribbled down endless bullet points, and tried prioritizing them over and over again. Eventually, I decided to scrap it all and reset it. I’ll start with whatever first comes to mind — something simple enough not to overwhelm me but fulfilling enough to give me a sense of purpose during those small pockets of free time when I feel aimless.
So here we are. Writing will be a long journey for me, but I plan to take shortcuts by experimenting and learning quickly through trial and error. For now, let’s talk about today’s topic: how to write well. It’s a broad topic, so I’ll focus on a few key points.
1. Writing well starts with thinking well
I’ve always thought my writing was “good enough” — but perhaps only for certain audiences: my literature teacher, my colleagues, or my friends. These are people who know me to some degree and are already somewhat influenced by my voice.
But I want to go beyond that. I want strangers — people who know nothing about me — to find my writing captivating. For that, I need to work harder, to practice relentlessly until my writing improves every day.
To write well, I believe you need to think well first. Writing is a process of articulating thoughts, organizing them, and intentionally communicating your message to readers.
How do you think well? For me, it starts with knowledge. The more you know, the more connections and ideas you can draw upon when you think. It ensures your thoughts are fresh, varied, and creative — not repetitive or dull. And when thinking and writing stay engaging for me, they will likely stay engaging for you, the reader.
2. To think better, read more
Reading is the foundation of knowledge. I believe there are three types of reading I must consistently pursue:
- Books: Reading books immerses me in the author’s world and allows me to follow their journey from beginning to end. Books provide a complete system of ideas and philosophies, which I can unpack and internalize deeply.
- News: Keeping up with daily news ensures I’m not out of touch with the world. While I limit my news intake — because let’s face it, it can be repetitive and uninspiring — I value the occasional bit of timely knowledge that might spark a meaningful conversation.
- AI Summaries: To save time and ease the strain on my eyes, I often rely on AI to summarize multiple sources for me. I’ll listen to these summaries during casual activities like walking, relaxing, or even staring out the window. However, I’ve found that passive listening doesn’t always stick. The easier it is to consume information, the less likely it is to stay with you. So, I limit my listening to 20–30 minutes a day, which allows me to absorb and reflect on the key points without feeling overwhelmed.
3. Writing for connection, not perfection
I prefer to write essays like this — light, conversational, and unpolished. It’s not meant to be deeply analytical or meticulously structured. My goal is to share thoughts like a friend chatting with you, not a lecturer preaching advice. I want you to feel at ease reading my words, without the pressure to retain every piece of advice.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Writing, for me, is not just about the destination but the journey of expressing myself, connecting with others, and learning along the way. I look forward to sharing more in the next posts. Until then, take care!
Hey, I’m Mikel and you can read more of my stories here.
