Why it’s important: When you see other successful writers, it might seem like you should be everywhere. But that’s not the case. The ones who do seem to be everywhere probably have assistants creating a lot of that content, which is totally fine. I have an assistant, also, but that’s only been for the last year or so. Up until then, I did everything myself.

But when you’re starting out, you have to pick and choose where you want to be. A blog is essential. That is the baseline for a writer, in my opinion. An email newsletter is essential also. And then being on social media is crucial, although I recommend just focusing on 2-3 places.

Video is great if you feel motivated. The same is true for podcasting. I love podcasting but you have to really commit to it. The point is to choose your platforms, the ones you enjoy and that you can use to reach your audience.

Here’s the big challenge in choosing your platforms: you will be tempted to be EVERYWHERE. And it’s just not possible. When you see the big names being super active on every social media platform and doing “all the things,” remember that it took them a long time to build that up. And again, they have hired people to help with those things.

Don’t give into the idea that you have to be everywhere. First, focus on your website/blog, and email newsletter, and a couple of social media platforms. That’s more than enough to begin.

Daily Question: What platforms do you currently use to share your content, and where do you plan to expand in the next six months?

The post Milestone #2: Build the Platforms Where You Will Share Your Content appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Writing, for all the beauty and goodness it brings into the world, can also be a force of destruction.

For some reason, culturally speaking, writers are usually linked with vices such as smoking, drinking, lack of self-control, addiction to caffeine, ignoring their family to pursue their “art,” or any number of other destructive actions. Why is this?

The answer probably involves a much deeper dive into psychology than we have room for here (It certainly goes beyond my own expertise!). But the core reality is that writing requires such a huge amount of emotional energy that we are prone to fill the subsequent void with things that make us feel good in the moment but leave us empty.

The author John Updike wrote, “My first thought about art, as a child, was that the artist brings something into the world that didn’t exist before, and that he does it without destroying something else. A kind of refutation of the conservation of matter. That still seems to me its central magic, its core of joy.”

Updike didn’t mention that art can destroy the artist, but that is usually the first thing to go when a creative person pursues their craft to the exclusion of everything else.

Don’t make that same mistake. Don’t let your writing be the only thing that defines you. Choose to be a healthy person who is balanced, responsible, and enjoyable to be around. After all, what good is it if your writing changes other people’s lives, but it ends up destroying yours?

The post Don’t Let It Destroy You appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.