Writing without a clear purpose is like driving without a destination. It’s stressful, and it doesn’t usually end well.
You may start with something promising, but if you don’t know where your story is heading or what message you want to deliver, everything may go wrong.
As a writer, you need to determine your purpose before even outlining your work.
What does being intentional mean?
Before I share some tips, let’s check the meaning of the word “intent” first.
“Something that is intended; aim; purpose; design.”
– Collins Dictionary
“Having the mind and will to focus on a specific purpose.
– The Free Dictionary
“To be determined to do or achieve something.”
– Cambridge
In summary, being “intentional” means knowing your purpose and focusing on achieving it.
Three ways to be more intentional
As a writer, you can apply these 3Ps:
- Purpose;
- Plan;
- Passion.
Let’s discuss them one-by-one.
1. Narrow down your purpose in writing.
Doing this will help you focus on one thing and help you with the flow of your content. To identify and narrow down your purpose, you need to answer the question” WHY?”.
Why write a novel? To inspire people who can relate to the story.
Why write that blog post? To influence or give helpful information to readers.
Why write a sales copy? To persuade people and increase sales by 50%.
When you know your purpose in writing, you will be more confident. It will also be easier to remove parts that are not in line with your intention when you edit your content.
Aside from determining your “why,” here are some other questions you can ask yourself to narrow down your purpose:
- What message do I want to deliver to my audience?
- What would I want my reader to do after reading my content?
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2. Create a plan.
Suppose you want to succeed as a blogger. In that case, you need to build a well-established plan. This includes content for your website and social media, audience engagement, research, publishing schedules, and more.
Blogging requires your full commitment. It’s not something that you’d only do when you have time. You need to make time for it, and having a concrete plan will save you from setting unreachable goals, which may cause stress and burnout.
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3. Identify your passion.
“The ultimate success is to combine what you are passionate about as a writer with what your readers are passionate about.”
– Maria Chatzi
Being passionate about something is loving it unconditionally and without excuses.
One thing that passionate writers have as an advantage is that they see vulnerability as a strength, not a weakness. They are not afraid to show emotions because they want to build a genuine connection with their readers.
Because of that mindset, they are not scared of other people’s opinions and accept them open-mindedly. They don’t fear being rejected or misinterpreted.
Follow these three tips to become a passionate writer:
- Identify what you’re passionate about.
– What niche/s do you find exciting to write about? - Determine if you’re a generalist or a specialist writer.
– Do you want to be an expert on one topic only? Or do you wish to write on various niches? - Find and understand the “why” behind your passion.
– Identify the most profound reason that you have.
Learn the principles of creative thinking through our eBook, Time to Think Creative.
Becoming more intentional in writing requires some time and effort. It’s not something that you can be successful overnight, but you can master it as you practice.
Watch This Video
Sources:
Minaev, A. (2021, January 01). Content Planning – The Beginner’s Guide for Bloggers (2021). Retrieved January 29, 2021, from https://firstsiteguide.com/content-planning/
Chatzi, M. (2015). How to Always Be a Passionate Writer. Retrieved January 29, 2021, from https://www.writing-world.com/life/passion.shtml
[Author removed at request of original publisher]. (2015, October 27). 6.1 Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content. Retrieved January 29, 2021, from https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/6-1-purpose-audience-tone-and-content/
Jonah helps freelancers and entrepreneurs promote their personal brand or business by teaching writing and content marketing principles. During a casual day off, she enjoys painting, shopping for home decors, watching Netflix, or hosting meetups with friends.