What I’ve learned from writing millions of words

In a cave in France, like, 30,000 years ago or something, a couple of humans drew a bunch of animals and some random objects on their cave walls. 

This is one of the earliest depictions of visual storytelling known to humankind.

And here we are today, still telling each other stories. We’re still getting something out of them. 

In this issue of Write Like You Mean It, we’re gonna find out what that something is. 

Why I write

Now, I don’t live in a cave, but writing has always been the best way for me to express myself.

As a kid, it was often the only thing I had to turn to, the only way I could explore my feelings and experience of the world. 

I wrote to create a world that I didn’t see reflected around me. 

In this way writing is activism. And reading is activism too.

As a writer and reader, I believe in the power of words – whether they be in a novel, a blog post, an organisation’s ‘About’ page, or a tweet. 

I believe in the potential of stories to challenge and transform people and society.

What I’ve learned from writing millions of words

I’ve written for some of the largest charities and nonprofits in the UK. I’ve written for many clients as a freelancer. I’ve written a blog I’ve now sold. I’ve written a first (second? third?) draft of a novel. 

I’ve written millions upon millions of words and stories, some published, some not. 

And I’ve read. Wow, have I read. 

And what have all these years of creating and consuming stories taught me? 

Stories don’t simply mirror society – they refract it, offering a different lens through which we can view the world. 

Through compelling, heartfelt stories we can walk in the shoes of people from completely different backgrounds to ours. We can share in their struggles, their aspirations, their joys – and therefore grapple with our own.

Stories can give a voice to the silenced, just like me as a kid. Through stories we can see the world from perspectives we might never have considered otherwise. And this is where the magic happens.

The rise of online storytelling has allowed new voices to emerge. This democratisation of storytelling means that anyone with a story to tell can contribute to the narrative.

Everything you write is a story. Or it should be.

Why stories inspire action

I know you want to reach more people and build something great. I know you want to have an impact. 

Sometimes we have to let go of all the strategies and just write our stories (or somebody else’s if you’re writing for a cause).

This is the best and only place to begin because stories have the power to evoke emotions in a way that cold, bare facts simply cannot.

Stories operate on a different frequency. Good stories don’t preach; they create characters and worlds that invite readers to draw their own conclusions. This subtlety can lead to profound shifts in perspective and, ultimately, behaviour.

What’s your story?

If stories are this powerful, if they have the power to ignite a revolution, you’d better find out what your story is and share it with the world.

So what is your story? Where does it begin? Where is it going? What makes it unique? 

What is it about your story that makes me want to follow you wherever you goddam go? 

This is something you need to consider.

Never underestimate the power of your words. Whether you're a writer for a huge org, or a lone wolf kid writing because you need to, remember that your words – your stories – have the potential to change the world.

So go write.