Let The Writer in You Come Out to Play: A Mini Rant About Writing.
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”- Ernest Hemingway
Writing is so damn cool again.
Today, there are more writers coming out of the shadows, beating on their keyboards, editing their work to perfection late at night, and pinching themselves when they receive news of readers joining their newsletter.
If you haven’t joined our ranks, what are you waiting for? The world of writing doesn’t require a paid membership. If you do embrace the writer’s life, the only thing you need to focus on is telling a good story, sharing heartfelt advice, painful regrets, or brilliantly simple thoughts.
One of the main reasons I believe people can’t stomach publishing their thoughts: They assume their loved ones or co-workers will call them out on the bad writing. They fear their posts will be laughed at. They’ll be told to stick to their day job. The thing is that you don’t have to get paid to write. You write for fun. In fact, you must learn to enjoy the struggles mentioned above for a long time before you even consider making this craft a full-time career.
There is no one who can stop you from expressing yourself.
Don’t let the idiots who criticize your written attempts behind a screen or near you fool you: they’re too weak minded to handle criticisms themselves. They’re not even willing to challenge their abilities.
The critics with no "skin in the game” think they’re hot shit. They’ll tell their r/weirdasscreativeniche group that their creative process is in the same conversation as King, Brown, Greene, or Manson. The problem is they don’t ever hit “publish”. They don’t want to face the onslaught they themselves are dishing out. They afraid of being their true selves.
Do you really care what these scared bitches have to say? You shouldn’t. Your fears, while are quite understandable because I’ve had them myself when I published my first weekly post, aren’t real.
Let this shy dummy who can barely write freshman English papers tell you this: You’re braver than most haters for wanting to put yourself and your work out there.
“You can moan and whine if you’re pushing forward towards a good life. No one enjoys writing all the time. The same goes for any craft you choose to master. It’s only going to get better from here if you keep at it. Go ahead and bitch all you want. Just do your job.”- Crush Sanchez
Who the hell am I to give you writing advice?
I write a lot of crap and I’m still learning how to write well. All I can prove to you is that writing will make you courageous and it’ll make you vulnerable… which isn’t a bad thing. Writing online has helped me be less of a pussy when it comes to taking risks. I’m talking to strangers without worrying about what to say next. I’m saying “yes” to more adventures than ever before. I’m no longer afraid of speaking my mind in an intelligent manner.
When one isn’t afraid to live their lives, they can gain better ideas to write about. New experiences mean one never runs out of writing material. You might experience these same blessings if you choose to write.
I recommend it to all those who need the strength to jump into the unknown.
We might not ever become the greatest writers. We might be mediocre or witty at best. We owe it to ourselves and our fleeting youth to try. What harm will come if you sit down and write 100 or 1,000 posts in a year? Most of these posts will not be read. Charles Bukowski, Austin Kleon, Ryan Holiday, Steven Pressfield, and most of my favorite Substack writers like
, , and must have written themselves numb/near to death before they were considered literary greats or household names.Great results in writing are found in the countless work you put in.
As you make the leap into the writing world, try anything and everything. Rants, long form essays, poems, audio posts, or AI assisted drivel. You aren’t bound to one style or school of thought. You’ll discover a deep curiosity you haven’t been in contact with since you were picking your boogers and playing your favorite Saturday morning cartoon figurines. That curiosity will make researching into topics into a fun game.
This love for writing will help you during the years of typing away.
“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” — Louis L’Amour
“A lifetime of theory is worth a year of trial and error.”- Ed Latimore
So, my fledgling writer, embrace the struggle. You can’t think your way to great writing. You’re going to suck, and you’ll laugh along the way. Enjoy the late-night edits, the existential crises, and the occasional drink of coffee/Red Bull at 10pm to finish your essay. You’ll pay for these moments in your middle-aged years, but you’ll have gained much from writing.
And when those critics try to rain on your parade, just smile and keep typing. Because you’re not here to impress them. You’re here to dance with your demons, serenade your muse (shout out to Pressfield for this saying), and maybe—just maybe—change someone’s life with your words1.
So, go forth, you closet degenerates yearning to be heard! Write like your god damn laptop is on fire. And remember: The only membership fee in this club is your unbridled passion.
P.S. If anyone calls you out on bad writing online, just whisper, “I’m not a writer; I’m a goddamn sorcerer.” Then vanish in a puff of metaphorical smoke to write your next piece. If they call you out in person, you can choose to ignore them or fight them. I hope you know how to throw down2.
“If you wait for inspiration to write you’re not a writer, you’re a waiter.” — Dan Poynter
At the very least, you’ll change your life and your partner’s. You’ll become more interesting and attractive to them. If you don’t have a partner, then write some more.
This is Your Mind Ranting is not responsible for any actions you make towards your literary critics… though we’re rooting for your success!