notes

Can you give yourself advice?

I realized today that i've spent the last three years trying to be a better writer and I've made no progress.

I want to be a better writer, I'm just not sure how. What are the tips and tricks for writing? What books should I read? What do I need to know in order to be a better writer? That's when I realized I'd seen this before.

When I was learning to code, people would ask me for advice all the time. I almost always saw the same trap: people get stuck in a "research" phase. They scratch the surface of a bunch of topics, they try absorbing terminology, but nothing ever really sticks.

My advice for them is almost always obvious to me. Coding and writing are not that much different I don't think. Can I use the same advice? Can you even give yourself advice?

Let's see.

Step 1 - Write the advice you would give to someone about something you know well

Here is the advice i've given about learning to code:

1. If you know enough to just start coding....then just start coding. (Jump to step 4)
2. If you can't start coding yet, spend some time defining what coding means to you. Making apps, making games, website, AI, graphics, VR, is there a specific job you are looking at, etc...
3. Based on that, find a hands on guide for the basics. Ideally something you can go at your own pace, provides opportunity for practice, and offers feedback (most of the big programs fall into this style)
4. With the basics down, make something. What do you want to exist? Or, is there a fun twist on something that already exists? This is where most of the learning will actually happen.
5. Explore new technology by repeating steps 2-4.

General Mindset

• Anyone can learn to code
• Don't get too bogged down on being perfect from the beginning
• Try to be creative. Dream big and let that pull you

Step 2 - Reframe that same advice for yourself about something you don't know

Here is my reframing for myself on learning how to write well.

1. Just start writing
2. Spend some time defining what learning to write means to me
3. Find a hands on guide or course on the basics. Ideally something I can go at my own pace, provides opportunity for practice, and offers feedback (does this exist for writing?)
4. Write what I want to exist. Or, make a fun twist on something that already exists.
5. Explore new writing techniques by repeating steps 2-4.

General Mindset

• Anyone can learn to write
• Don't get too bogged down on being perfect from the beginning
• Try to be creative. Dream big and let that pull you

Does it work?

I don't know yet...but it did get help me write this.