My 10 Steps to becoming a better writer
This post was inspired by user @olamidetowobola10 post “How to Become a Successful Writer which can be read here. Though I don’t know why I bother to write. I haven’t been able to form any meaningful connections with other people in years. Trying to write and seek payment from social activity is a futile effort–in my mind. Still, I try out of a combination of insanity and defeatism rather than “genuine enthusiasm.”
I know I’m setting myself up for failure, but what is there to lose?
Using successful posts as a guide, I can attempt to build a writing habit again. As of writing, I am in a very bitter and defeatist mood. That doesn’t compare to the billions who suffer indignity in silence and degradation. Every. Single. Fucking. Day.
But let’s get back to writing, shall we?
In the user’s post, they highlight the ten steps that can be taken to improve writing:
Step 1: Recognize Why You Want to Become a Writer
Step 2: Become a Better Reader
Step 3: Start a Blog
Step 4: Enroll in an Online Writing Course
Step 5: Read the book “Everybody Writes” by Ann Handley
Step 6: Start Journaling
Step 7: Get Honest Critiques
Step 8: Practice Becoming More Conversational
Step 9: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober.”
Step 10: Write Everyday
By following these steps, I will hope to answer these questions and develop a baseline for future writing. Miserable as I may be in doing so.
Step 1: Recognize Why You Want to become a writer:
I want to become a writer to escape from the drudgery of wage employment. I would like to emphasize the hypocrisy of systemic racism and take steps to help me exit and, inevitably, destroy the system of racial capitalism from reproducing itself in any way, shape or form, period.
A lifetime of social conditioning and isolation has made this impossible to achieve on my own. As of writing, I am complicit in maintaining the system of white supremacy by showing up to my job every day.
Employment is coercion. It is violence that is reproduced in all areas of Human activity to justify the system of Human parasitism that calls itself capitalism. Employment robs individuals and people from doing meaningful work due to labour being intentionally undervalued.
And I sit here, bitching and moaning, without being able to do anything to alleviate said injustices because “I have bills to pay.” Every day I wake up more socially dead than the day before. Just like the majority of people.
Systemic racism, in concert with casteism, is why labour is undervalued. Those of the inheritance and owning class can only reproduce their wealth by preventing others from realizing the full value of their labour. They are forced to trade away potential against capital. This is a perverse inversion of being: labour can add value to capital, but capital refuses to value labour. With this intentional undervaluing of labour, capital extracts for itself at the cost of Human dignity as well as the physical and mental health of the exploited.
Furthermore, the exploited are made into objects for the delusion of the superiority of the parasitic capital hoarders.
As infinite growth is no longer possible– and Human beings don’t like being made into objects– this system of capitalism can, will and must be destroyed. That destruction will not come from those who benefit from this exploitation. We, the exploited, must eliminate this system and its supporters by any means necessary.
I state again; that capitalism is incompatible with real Human freedom, and any who support such a system identify themselves as obstacles to Human potential. Therefore it is only right to destroy such a system, its benefactors and accomplices, period.
How that comes about, I will leave it to the readers’ imagination.
As of writing, I am one such person that should be destroyed.
Either all are allowed to be free, or none are free; no negotiation.
Step 2: Become a Better Reader
I have spent the last few years reading books more than talking with people. Being a designated “other” of the dominant culture, I have no desire to replicate the actions necessary to alleviate the cultural scorn against my being. I read because I no longer see television as entertainment. Rather it has, and always will be, propaganda. I read because I am alone, and I am alone because I read. The people of today do not want to read. Knowledge is being hoarded to maintain an artificial hierarchy. I
But none will care.
In reading many subjects, I get to empathize with the worldview of writers. Whether they are experts, amateurs, theologians, politicians, medical professionals, teachers, technicians, artists etc., they all provide a window into thinking that I wouldn’t be able to intuit.
Step 3: Start a Blog
I have had my own personal blog for eight years. I have never been able to make money from this blog because I experience cognitive dissonance when writing about myself. Part of me believes that nothing I write about is of any importance, but I feel I will be disappointed with myself if I don’t try to write what think and feel. tie this complex to my continued financial difficulties. Though I have a “living income” as of writing, I continue to live paycheck to paycheck. It is impossible to free oneself from the stagnation of employment.
Step 4: Enroll in an Online Writing Course
I’ve been enrolled in a writing improvement course at the University of Michigan. I have only completed the first course of the five needed to finish. I will have to resume this course to become the writer I wish to be. And still, like a fool, I try; I hate my naivety.
Step 5: Read the book “Everybody Writes” by Ann Handley
I will add this to the list of books I’m currently reading. I have been unable to pirate a version of this book, so I must spend money I don’t have—again.
Step 6: Start Journaling
I have resumed this habit, and I find myself insufferable. I don’t really share what goes on in my head. All that I know is that I am in the grips of impotent rage. Better to place it on the page of a notebook than sharing it with the world. Then why the fuck did I write this?
Step 7: Get Honest Critiques
I will need to do this but fear getting useless advice on “positivity.” Perhaps it would help to look up how to request a critique. I won’t know until I try.
Step 8: Practice Becoming More Conversational
Is my Collective Kin’s wanting to live without the ever-present threat of state, social and vigilante death, not enough?
“How dare Niggers claim to be Human!”–bloviate the parasites that call themselves “Human.”
Being an Afrikan has always been controversial. It wouldn’t be any different than going through economic coercion every day.
Step 9: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober.”
What was my year of sobriety for? I have tried writing this post drunk, but feel as if I’m failing myself by succumbing to the ease of numbness. I know it would be best not to drink anymore but have yet to find a reason to stay sober.
Step 10: Write Everyday
I have been doing that in personal journals. I don’t have the luxury of saying or doing what I want online.
Conclusion
A “living wage” isn’t possible with student loan debt, inflation and supporting an elderly parent on a fixed income.
Thanks for reading.