Don't Add to the Noise, Just Write
The only piece of writing advice you need - Write.
Over the last week, I have been hit by the killer flu bug. Hopefully, this newsletter, the first thing I have written for ten days, sparks a return to feeling human again. How are you all? Have you been cut down by this killer cough and flu?
One of the things I have been doing is spending time on Substack, and I have noticed it is becoming saturated with salesmen trying to sell you writing courses, AI products, and all sorts of other ways to improve your writing. The only way to improve your writing is to write.
You could speak to all the marathon runners in the country and get their tips, but unless you start running the miles, you will never run a marathon. It is the same principle.
I have also noticed a massive shift in Notes this week. Many creators are moaning about the writers who only write about writing. They are sick of their feed being filled with statuses that read like Christmas cracker inserts. They are voting with their block button.
I support this. Medium was such a lovely place to write, but then the salesman and the write-about-writing brigade joined. Within six months, I was struggling to find something to read.
Yes, we all need to start somewhere, and some of this advice might be useful, but how many of them show you how to write a history article? If you know one, let me know because I have never found one. Instead, the course teaches you how to write about writing, and no one needs more of those articles.
I pray Substack does not go the way of Medium. Some of the responses in Notes make me hopeful people are pushing against it.
Although I still plan to share advice with you in this newsletter, I also want it to be a more personal account of my writing journey. I want to share with you all what I am working on, funny stories about my family (there are a few with my kids), and just a general chat. This is an email I would send to my friends.
If this isn't for you, then no hard feelings; thank you for reading as long as you have. If you want writing advice, check out my articles. I have a vast back catalogue of writing advice; I no longer want to add to the noise.
If you enjoy this email, please share it so more readers can find it. If you need advice or writing tips, I would love to hear them. Drop them in the comments or email me by hitting reply to this newsletter.
Until next week stay safe
Sam 😊
If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. - Vincent Van Gogh
