Unlock the Secret to Effortless Writing: Turn Every Word into Play and Watch Creativity Soar
Why do we dread growing up, yet secretly long to do just that? Isn’t it odd how as kids, we gaze upon adults with starry-eyed awe, and then as adults, we peer back at youth—the very shadows of ourselves—with a mix of envy and reverence? Writing, much like childhood play, is a dance of imagination—pretending on paper, breathing life into worlds only we can see. But when you’re venturing into creativity as a career, suddenly the playground feels daunting. I remember the tug-of-war inside me—the nervous excitement to turn my lifelong scribbles into a livelihood, paralyzed by the flood of so-called “secrets” and “hacks” shouted by influencers online. It’s like standing in a crowded room shouting, “Just start!” while your brain insists you need a mysterious key first. What if the real magic lies in revisiting the fearless, imaginative kid you once were? The one who created stories with wild abandon, with none of the adult’s dread of imperfection? Let’s explore that journey—from hesitancy to boldness—and what it means to reclaim the joy of playing pretend… only this time, on paper that pays the bills. LEARN MORE
What is writing if not playing pretend on paper?
No one wants to grow up. We yearn for the enigmatic splendors of adulthood when we are naive, impressionable, and unable to understand it. As children, we look upon our elders, our monarchs, with reverence and envy. Then, as adults, we gaze down at the youth, our shadows, with reverence and envy. It isn’t a cycle. It’s the direct result of growth and perspective.
When I first contemplated a career in creativity, I wasn’t sure how to approach it. Writing has always been a source of healing and happiness for me, but I never quite imagined it could become a source of income as well. All my life, I’ve written for hours-upon-hours without financial gain. I’ve trembled in fear at the notion of a nine-to-five job dragging me away from my laptop. With this new door ajar, I could do what I love, all the time, and support myself in the process.
But where to begin?
Influencers promised me “The Secret to $100K” and “The Key to 1,000 Words A Day” in exchange for their online courses. An onslaught of advice was thrust at me by the Algorithmic Overlords. While in some sense, I knew these creators were only trying to help, the bombardment of content made me feel directionless and unprepared. My heart whispered to simply begin, but my brain was convinced if there was some special magic in these courses, I needed it.
I was afraid to practice in public, even if writing is a private craft. I’d be writing in front of myself, after all. I cannot be imperfect in front of myself… right?
They say that you should only take advice from people you truly admire. So, to confront this predicament, I set out to consult someone I’ve admired for as long as I can remember. She is an expert on the subject of imagination, and possibly the only person who’s ever been able to advise me when it comes to mine. She is me, just younger.
My younger self wrote like it was breathing. Her imagination was expansive, unapologetic, and unafraid of roads less traveled. In fact, she delighted most in paving her own new and inventive ways through the world. She played with Barbie and Bratz dolls, crafting narratives for them with splendid, chaotic imperfection. Plot…
