Write Things: On Making the Shift to Writer

Hello writer,

The Write Things Community has been running for almost two months now, and I’ve noticed something interesting—writers are shifting.

They’re moving from wondering if they have a story worth telling to asking themselves which story they want to tell first.

It’s a shift in confidence and belief.
One that you can make too. Here’s how.

Mindset Shift

This shift begins with a writing routine.
It doesn’t matter if it’s daily or every other day—the first step is setting aside specific time to write…and actually showing up.

There are plenty of benefits to doing this, but one powerful result is that you’ll start wanting to share your writing more. It makes sense: you’re investing time and energy, so naturally you’ll want to see how it impacts a reader. Writing becomes a bigger, more meaningful part of your life.

The more you write, the more you share, the more you begin to feel like a writer.

Sometimes you’ll get negative feedback. Sometimes a story won’t land the way you thought it would. But when you’re already committed to writing regularly, that criticism doesn’t stop you like it once did.

And when it doesn’t stop you, it stops being something to fear. Instead, it becomes something you keep in mind the next time you write. You use it to grow.

Not because you’re chasing perfection.
Not because you want to people-please.
But because you want your writing to create a specific effect, deliver a message, or stir a particular emotion.

And that’s the big shift.

You’re no longer writing for the praise of a published author, teacher, or coach. You’re writing for yourself.

When you make that shift—when you prioritize what you want to express—you’re trusting that you know best what you’re here to write. And when you trust that only you can tell the stories you’re meant to tell, you gain confidence.

You stop wondering if you’re a writer and start thinking about what you’ll write next.

And guess what?
That’s what writers do.

It all begins with planning and committing to regular writing time.

Want the complete breakdown of how to move past the inner critic, procrastination, and the other hurdles keeping you from a fulfilling writing practice?

👉 I’ll Make You A Writer Webinar
6:30–8:00pm CDT, September 4th
Registration includes access to the replay and a playbook you can use immediately.

Your Next Four Minutes

Set a timer for four minutes and write whatever comes to mind.
No editing. No expectations. Just listen and write.

Prompt: “A place I passed by.”
Maybe it’s somewhere you’ve been a thousand times. Maybe only once. Is it a physical place? A memory? Something a character wants to tell you?

Here are a few quick-writes from the Write Things Community using the same prompt:

Brenda H:
It wasn’t just a place I passed by
It was my former life.
It was my entire childhood. My life as a young wife and mother. The third-generation family farm waving gently from the north side of the highway as decades of my life flickered onto my interior screen like reels in a slow-motion movie in that country mile.
Every time I pass by the farm, I feel the need to slow down, observe the changes and drink in the memories.
I wonder if it will ever become just a place I pass by?

Michelle K:
A place I passed by.
It’s in my mind.
The calm breeze.
The sunset.
The moon.
The place in my mind where there is quiet.
The ocean.
The palm trees swishing.
The birds.
Where I see what I want.
Love.
Respect.
Empathy.
Where I feel what I want.
Memories.
Music.
Rest.
A place I’d like not to pass by…

Shawna T:
Burundi. I left Kigali on a plane to Nairobi. Landing strip, blown-up vehicles and planes on both sides. Wasn’t Nairobi. Burundi was on the verge of civil war. I was headed there a few weeks earlier until the guy driving told me he wanted more than a trip to Burundi with me. What the fuck with men. Anyway, landing strip. Heavily armed military types boarded the plane. I was calm. This is what I remember most. Calm. I remember thinking, “Huh, this doesn’t happen a lot to people.” As if I was lucky I lived an interesting life. Happened years ago. I forgot it was a story until I told my son last year and his face lit up with surprise and a bit of amusement. He knows me. “You get scared when someone knocks on the door—that didn’t phase you.” My nervous system is oddly calm in wild situations. Back to Burundi. A guy was taken off the plane and the rest of us headed to Nairobi. That’s all I know. Just passing through.

There’s no “right” way to do it. As long as you’re giving yourself permission to write whatever comes to mind, you’re in the right space.

Did you know that the pieces shared on the Write Things Podcast are all born from quick-writes like these?
They are!

🎙️ Check out our first episode here: https://app.kajabi.com/admin/podcasts/2147994810

If you enjoy this newsletter, please share it with a friend. The more writers we get writing, the more wonderful stories we’ll have in the world.

Until next time, I wish you and your stories all the best,
Trevor Martens
Founder, I Help You Write Things

P.S. Editor Rachel Small and I are hosting a pair of writing groups this September. If weekly prompts, support, and feedback would help you get started writing, we’d love to have you join us.
👉 Register here: https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/writinggroups