Content Creation Secrets

Until I started blogging, I used to write down notes, reminders and quotes that pop into my mind.

This usually happens when I was in the middle of writing something else – when I was hit by a dilemma, doubt or when the spirits were running low.

These reminders somehow revved up my spirits and gave me the tonic to continue writing.

I usually don’t go back and read these reminders, but I occasionally, I stumble upon them in various notebooks when I’m cleaning my study.

I’m always surprised at the directness and profundity of these notes.

They contain a kind of energy which you don’t see in preplanned writing.

I use to wonder how I could have written such profound notes when I was in the throes of doubt and struggling with my writing.

As I thought deeply about it, an answer began to emerge. It was not the struggling writer who has written it, but a greater self.

That greater self is a teacher, who knows it all, who knows what’s good for his student.

When the student stumbles, he steps in and shows the student the way with advice, pointers and suggestions.

Yes, you are a student and teacher rolled into one.
The student is the one who’s learning and doing his homework (writing).

The trouble with the student is he thinks he’s smart. For a time, he thinks he knows everything and wants to go it on his own.

He does not need the teacher because the teacher is always comeing up with something that makes his life miserable. That’s what most good teachers do for the student’s own good.

So, he openly tells his teacher that he doesn’t need any advice. He turns a deaf ear to what his teacher has to say.
The ignored teacher, however, is patient. He waits. He knows one day the student would need and appreciate his help.

Looking through the notes I recognized the presence of the teacher and his wisdom. I decided to use his services whenever I run into a writing problem.

I went to him with the firm belief that he will help me eliminate any writing problem I face. I know he has the answers.

So, for instance, when I’m stuck writing, I don’t ask the student what I’m supposed to do.

If I ask him, he’ll surely say, “Quit and do something else.”

I ask the teacher and he says, “Just write down a sentence. Don’t worry, just write down a sentence.”

So, I write down a sentence.

Confidence comes to me because I know the teacher is beside me to offer guidance.

When I hesitate after writing the first sentence, he’ll say, “Go on, write down the second sentence. You’ll be fine.”
The student makes a face and says, “But I don’t know what sentence to write.”

The teacher firmly replies, “You don’t have to know what sentence to write. Just write down any sentence. Go on.”

Since the student is lost, he just goes on and writes the next sentence and the next and the next. Before long, he makes a connection and the writing starts flowing.

I then realized that the student is always complaining, always offering excuses when he meets with the slightest obstacle or difficulty. He’s always trying to avoid inconvenience, even the minor ones.

There was a time I gave in to the student and found that he’s taking me nowhere in my writing.

This is when I started listening to the teacher and started writing down what he says.

These days I just listen to the teacher’s voice in my head, He’s speaking most of the time and hardly allows the student to complain.

In those days, when I realized the importance of the teacher’s advice, I had him write letters to the student. They were long letters which I forced the student to read and put into practice the suggestions offered.

The more letters the student read, the less were his complaints.

But then the student can’t totally give up his habit of complaining about the same old things. But when the teacher steps in and tells him what to do, he stops complaining and starts writing. He always ends up praising himself for taking the teacher’s advice.

The student in you will always be complaining – I’m not in the mood to write, my writing is not good enough, I’m too tired to write…etc.

If you listen to him, you’ll get nowhere. Call in the teacher and hear what he has to say. He knows what’s best for the student, just like a doctor knows what’s best for a patient.

I’m sure you would have heard the teacher’s voice, but may not have paid it much regard. You may be listening more to what the student has to say.

Ask yourself, “What have I benefitted from listening to the student?”

Ask yourself, “What will I benefit from listening to the teacher?”

Listening to the teacher is your secret weapon to successful content creation.

Call in the teacher now and ask the student to shut up.