Focus on the key elements of curiosity and alertness when writing

81% of people say they want to write a book, but less than 3% make it through the process. So, it’s not other authors that you’re competing with—there’s plenty of room for everyone’s voice and insight, according to Hay House Publishers.

Successful writers persevere, no matter what. They focus on key elements to elevate their writing.

One such key element is to be curious and alert.

Allow yourself to be curious, to explore, to be truly absorbed by moments. We write better when we engage with life around us. What are you seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling?

HOW DO I DESCRIBE THINGS LIKE SOUNDS AND STILLNESS?

Before description comes the observation and experience.

And then it all has to do with a deep inner listening. You need to forget everything around you and take yourself back to that moment, remembering the minutest details. Whatever you cannot remember, of haven`t physically experienced, you research until you find your answers.

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT

You need to know what you are writing about. If you are describing a bungee jump, it would be best if you have done one yourself. You want your writing to be as authentic as possible.

Or you are writing a memoir, including a stint in the bush. You were lucky enough to get a sighting of a leopard.

Now you are about to put your experience into words.

Besides remembering the special moment, you also want to know everything you can about leopards, even if it is for a single paragraph. You will be rewarded with a rich and interesting text to work with, which readers will appreciate.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

Can I accurately describe the colours, the intensity of the leopard I saw? How breathless was the silence in the bush? Was there any sound when it exploded into a hunt? How do I describe the scene in such a way that my reader can literally feel and hear what I did?

THE KEY ELEMENTS OF CURIOSITY AND ALERTNESS WHEN WRITING

Conservationist and National Geographic Fellow, Dr Steve Boyes, wrote about silence whilst in the extreme eastern province of Lunda Sul in Angola. Look at the way he not only describes a scene but transcends the moment into a universal human experience. You can follow more of his style of writing on Instagram or LinkedIn.

“Listen onto the silence of a river rushing past or the birds singing nearby. In the silence is the feeling of the air, the oneness of all things, a sense of aliveness. The power of the thundering rapids deepens the silence. Listen to the silence in the ambient sounds of life to hear the secrets of the universe. Listen to the silence to discover who you really are.”

HOW DO I AS A WRITER LISTEN TO MY INNER VOICE?

Heather Demitrios gives the following advice in her article “Creating from Stillness”.

“Are you a true artist? Do you want to be? Then it’s time to do the hard work of getting quiet. But how do we do this in such a loud world? We sit. We listen. We breathe.

Sit, listen, breathe: Simple, but not easy. When you meditate, no matter how noisy your internal sound loop is, you are building the muscles that will help you swim your way to the calm, still lake inside you. Sometimes you’ll only get to visit the lake for a second. Other times, for minutes on end.”

PRACTISING AND FLEXING YOUR WRITING MUSCLES

There is no better time than right now to make that decision and start writing your memoir or autobiography! Remember that, as a writing coach, I am right here to help you warm up and develop your writing muscles.