The Storyteller's Itch

From the written word, to the spoken word & back.

I am ready to take my writing habit to the next level.

For the past one year, I’ve been working on my writer’s muscle.

Intentionally.

Purposefully.

Strategically.

Yes, there have been some unprecedented breaks, sudden avalanche of words, and complete loss of ideas.

I’ve learnt to be content & kind. I’ve learnt to be critical & brutal. I’ve learnt to be patient & forgiving.

Once upon a time I wrote a blog. It helped me slow down for a certain phase of life. I had been hustling before that. I tried my best to make writing work for me. And it did! Writing, helped me rest, recollect and rediscover my love for the written word.

Then, followed a decade of Oral Storytelling where I again discovered an unknown part of me. The spoken word gently took me away from the written word.

Now, I crave to write. I realise my voice has changed in the past decade. My experiences, my perceptions, my views on the stories around us has shaped me to be who I am today.

And so, there is this deep desire to document the person I am becoming.

In the past one year, I have worked on every word with the intention of creating content that is meaningful and useful. To me, first and then anyone else. As we continue to grow in the attention economy, I have tried to shift the focus from “Who is reading my content?” to “Why am I writing?” And so, I have measured every word written for social media, personal notes, training content, website, newsletter and marketing collateral.

The intention has been to put down ideas & thoughts that cause a whirlwind in my mind. I have tried to identify my writer’s voice, find its rhythm and its range.

As a writer, an entrepreneur and a Top Voice, I constantly ask myself, what am I writing for?

𝘼𝙢 𝙄 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤:

• Build a writing habit?

• Educate?

• Share my Voice?

• Establish my thought-leadership?

• Build Networks?

• Leave a Legacy?

• Sell my expertise, knowledge and time?

There is a lot of writing that goes out into the public domain. Having a clear objective and purpose makes it a meaningful investment of time. Whether I am writing on LinkedIn, on my company blog, social media or newsletter, there is always the need to make my writing work for ME!

There is also the not-so-happy underbelly to this…and I must acknowledge it too.

When there are no clicks, no comments, no conversations and conversions, I have to change course to look at the same piece of writing through another perspective.

𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜:

• Help someone read more?

• Change someone’s perspective?

• Bring a smile to a reader?

• Give an idea that they were searching for?

• Make social media useful for a scroller?

• Make learning accessible?

• Inspire someone to write?

• Make someone believe in the Power of Stories?

Learning to write has been a wonderful rediscovery of sorts.

I have learnt to be critical, analytical, introspective and purposeful.

Everyday I ask, “Why am I writing? Who does it serve? How is it shaping the world?”

The journey is mostly inwards and when there is no outside validation, I am exploring it from another perspective.

However, I must admit that the most courageous form of writing that I embarked upon was the manuscripts for my first set of children’s books! From the spoken word, to the written word I am embarking on a new path of self-discovery. I am nervous. I am excited. I am restless. I am calling this The Storyteller’s Itch!

To think of myself as a storyteller, writer and author is to reimagine myself in three-dimension! It’s a whole new journey, and I want to live it intimately.

For now, I am deeply enjoying writing.

Writing slows me down & compels me to spend time with my thoughts, experiences and memories.

It shapes my ideas & helps me document the small stories that help me grow.

Writing helps me strengthen my voice. Follow a direction. Pursue my purpose. Practice mindfulness. Build selflessness. Be expressive. Be creative. Be illustrative. Be descriptive.

Like I said, I want to nurture the person I am becoming…

I am ready to take my writing habit to the next level.

I hope you will stick around for me.

I am not sure what it would do for you.

I am hoping you will find out.