Thread by @tobydoyhowell

1/ Being a writer at @MorningBrew means existing in a constant state of creativity

creativity comes with its own set of challenges

here are a few ways I've learned to get over writer's block and imposter syndrome

2/ WRITER'S BLOCK

Set fear-inducing deadlines

the Brew newsletter has to go out the next morning

I literally have no other option other than to get a piece done

my hand is forced every day

have someone set immovable deadlines, and watch your output 10x

3/ Massage your work

if there is a lump of something on the page, congrats, the hardest step is over

now enter massage mode

make each sentence feel good, like it deserves to be there

then, if you have to keep rewriting a sentence, just delete it

4/ Let the internet to do the heavy lifting

at the Brew, writing is more like building Legos without instructions

the building blocks (stories from other outlets) are all there, we just assemble them

when you write, let someone else provide the blocks

you focus on assembly

5/ Go for a walk

just do it

sometimes i make it less than 10 feet out of the door before an idea hits me

its that powerful of a tool

6/ IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Write for your friends

if I thought about the 2.4 million people the Brew goes out to, writing would be impossible

instead, I try to impress 3 people—Neal, Alex, and Eliza, the other Brew writers

less scary + leads to better writing

7/ Write in a group

having a full crew all going through the exact same thing as me helps tremendously

assemble your crew. don't write alone

8/ Get an editor

by the time a piece is done, I've been so wrapped up in the process that I don't even know if it's good

having Neal sign off on it sheds that fear immediately

find yourself a Neal

9/ Make something you're proud of

writing something below standard brings on the most acute feelings of imposter syndrome

so don't

you won't produce A+ work all the time

but the act of trying is enough to alleviate those feelings

10/ Let it rip

it's my go-to motto because it strips away perfectionism

and reduces content creation to a binary—you either make something or you don't

and it feels damn good to be a maker