All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Writing*

*With acknowledgement to Robert Fulghum of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Lessons from Writing

A year ago, in January 2019, I launched my website and “officially” hung out my shingle as a full-time editor, proofreader, and writing consultant. Prior to that, I had done freelance editing and proofreading as a side gig for many years, so the work itself was not new. But many of the “administrative” types of tasks, including building a website, were new.

In reflecting on this past year, I’ve realized that a lot of what I’ve learned as a business owner/freelancer coincides with what I’ve learned as a writer. The lessons I’ve learned from writing are many. Importantly, writing (by which I mean the overall writing process) teaches us a lot about how to grow, adapt, and change. It’s not just our manuscripts that are works in progress (WIPs)–we are all WIPs ourselves. To that end, it seems that all I really need to know in life I’ve learned from writing.

1. Change is constant.

Change is constant. In life. In business. In how we interact with others. In writing, change is called revision, and it goes hand-in-hand with the editing process. It’s how we improve as writers; it’s how we most accurately communicate to our readers.

Accepting change (in life, in business, in writing), regardless of whether it’s perceived as negative or positive, and adapting accordingly is essential. But doing so is not always easy. Change happens whether we want it to or not, and it requires work on our end.

Editing, like most disciplines, is not a skill that one learns once and then just knows for life. Just like a medical professional, an editor needs to keep up with trends and changes. As an editor, for example, I need to keep up with style guide updates (e.g., changes that occur with a new edition of the APA publication manual). I take it upon myself to stay abreast of trends, not just in academic or technical/professional writing, but in creative writing as well. All of this is part of the excitement of the field, something I love about this line of work. Doing so also helps me prepare for and adapt to change.

2. Variety is the spice of life.

Ah, variety. Mixing short sentences with long sentences. Finding synonyms for overused words. Pardon the cliche, but variety really is the spice of life. It keeps one’s writing fresh. If you started every essay, story, chapter, or novel the same way, it would get boring for your reader. So mix it up!

My work is about variety, too; and I’ve learned that the freshness and exuberance I feel when approaching my work comes from the fact that every day is different. My tasks are different, and my projects are different. And my deadlines vary, so my working hours are different, too. After many years at typical 9-to-5 types of jobs, this variety is definitely refreshing!

3. Be curious.

Be curious. Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you primarily do academic writing, try writing a poem. If you find yourself using the same “stock” phrases in your writing, experiment with new vocabulary and different phrasings. Do your research. Learn.

This writing lesson is not just about being curious; it’s also a reminder to never stop learning. A writer, much like a business owner, must avoid stagnation and falling into the “but trap”: “But I’ve always done it this way.” Or “But this is the way I was taught.” Writers need to read, research, and constantly adapt and learn.

As we learn, we adapt and change; that’s where growth comes from.

4. Listen first; assess later.

I’ve been involved in writing critique workshops for over fifteen years. It’s natural for a writer to have a “knee-jerk” reaction to feedback. I’ve been there myself. Sometimes, there’s the inclination to defend our work (another kind of “but trap”). But I’ve learned that it’s more beneficial to listen (silently) and really consider the feedback first. That’s not to say that the feedback is always right or that we have to accept it. But we learn by listening–really listening. When somebody says that they don’t like a line in a poem you’ve written, what they really might be saying is that they don’t understand the line. Perhaps there’s a word choice issue. You (the writer) can decide later how to revise, whether you accept the feedback or ignore it. But you should listen first, and you should do so with an open mind.

Listening to my clients helps me grow as an editor, proofreader, and writing consultant. It’s important for me to listen to what the writers I work with need. From there, I assess and adapt. Change, as previously noted, is constant. And every client’s needs are different. (Ah, variety!)

5. Take breaks.

Breaks, whether they’re paragraph or section breaks, are helpful and often important for readability. (The exception would be an experimental creative work that may be written in all one paragraph or sentence.) Generally, though, an effective writer presents their information in easily digestible chunks, allowing the reader to read and understand at a comfortable pace.

And in life, you should take breaks, too, allowing yourself to reflect on events and understand them. Much like I’m doing now, in this blog post–I’m taking a break to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned from writing over the years but also from my first year as a full-time editor, proofreader, and writing consultant.

Be good to yourself. Let yourself have those pauses between paragraphs, sections, or chapters–in writing and in life.

6. Choose words wisely.

When speaking, writing, or conducting business, one should use their words wisely and thoughtfully. They should use precise language and specific examples when possible. Proper and effective communication helps prevent misunderstandings; it also relays competency, cordiality, respect, and trust. The manner in which one relays information plays a big part in how the receiver accepts it. (I talk more about tone, perception, and communication in this post.)

When I think back on different moments of frustration in my life–trouble with homework, a disagreement with a friend, a bad day at work–it’s easy to see how communication affects all of these scenarios. Nobody is a perfect communicator all the time, but considering your word choice and how well it matches your intended audience will take you a long way in improving as a writer (and as a communicator, in general).

Communication (both written and spoken) is most persuasive when language is precise, specific, and cohesive. Precision comes from choosing words that most accurately reflect your intent. If you find yourself using words like “thing,” “very,” or “good” in your writing, you may want to consider the information you’re trying to relay with a bit more depth. “Good,” for example, is very general; it means different things to different people. In that way, it’s not precise and can, therefore, be ineffectual in some forms of writing.

7. Be respectful, honest, and constructive.

As a writer, I wish for my writing to be read. Not all writers wish for this; some write just for themselves. However, if you do want your writing to be read, it’s helpful to elicit feedback from others. As someone who has been on both the giving and receiving ends of writing critiques, I’ve learned that it’s most beneficial to give and receive honest and constructive feedback. It’s not helpful to say that you don’t like something without being able to articulate precisely why you don’t like it or to try to offer a possible solution. In my work as an editor, I make it a point to offer suggestions for improvement when something doesn’t work for me as a reader.

Importantly, feedback on one’s writing should be delivered in a respectful way. One should avoid attacking the writer personally; that is almost never helpful. Similarly, in everyday life, one should avoid personal attacks and should, instead, strive to treat others with respect. This is not just a lesson from writing; it’s a lesson most of us learned early on in school–to treat others as you’d like to be treated. But when life knocks you down, it can be easy to forget this. A reminder never hurts.

8. Give credit where credit is due.

In academic writing, one of the first things instructors teach their students is not to plagiarize. We want to see the source information, the citation in the essay. A proper references page. It’s important to acknowledge where one gets their information. (On top of that, plagiarism is a serious offense with potential severe repercussions, including possible expulsion from a university.)

I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help, advice, and feedback from the various networking and writing groups I’m involved in and from countless people, such as family, friends, clients, colleagues, and peers. I try to remember to thank people regularly and acknowledge how they’ve helped me. If I’ve ever had any doubt in humanity, this past year of business has restored my faith. Kindness goes a long way.

Which brings me to the last lesson (for this post, at least) from writing. It’s certainly not the last lesson I’ve learned from writing. But one has to stop somewhere (which is actually another good lesson I’ve learned from writing!).

9. Collaborate. It’s not a competition.

Many think of writing as a solo activity. Although it certainly can be, the writing process also benefits from a certain level of collaboration. Collaboration goes beyond offering feedback. It also comes in the forms of support and advice and networking.

What I’ve learned from writing–and from starting a business–is that life is not a competition. Other writers, editors, and proofreaders are my colleagues, not my competition. Although I’ve benefited from many other writers, writing mentors, and teachers through the years, this lesson was still a long time coming. I’m competitive by nature. I enjoy winning. But even in Scrabble (one of my favorite games), winning isn’t the point. Okay, it is, but it’s not the whole point. Being my best self is the point–doing the best I can at any one point in time. In Scrabble. In writing. In life.

That “best self” is based on a lot of factors, both external and internal; our “best self” is fluid and changing. After all, change is constant. Most importantly, though, a lot of us get to that “best self” not just through hard work but through collaboration with others. When we realize that we’re in this together, that’s when a difference is made.

What Life Lessons Have You Learned from Writing?

The lessons one learns from writing (and the writing process) will be different for everyone. And I can certainly think of other lessons that I haven’t shared here. For example: many projects take longer than you expect them to. I’ve definitely learned that!

Leave a comment and let me know what writing has taught you. And if you need any writing assistance, please contact me. Either way, I look forward to hearing from you!