A Mapping Exercise To Write Better
Reminders Of What Makes Good Writing
I’ve been struggling lately. For as much as I want to write, I have been hitting a wall. I can’t decide what comes next — is it the piece about how running has helped me overcome my imposter syndrome at work? Is it something about taking my daughter to her first NFL game? Or is it something completely different, yet to be discovered?
Writing successfully online presents another challenge. It’s been widely shared that the key to building success online stems from both consistency and a niche. Taking a month off between my posts on Medium along with an array of ideas that seem unrelated doesn’t help my chances.
When I get into a funk, I tend to reflect a lot. What are the things that are both interesting to me and that I am passionate about? What are my roles in life? And ultimately what would be a piece that someone would want to read? What’s interesting to me may not always be the best piece. But mapping all of these elements typically helps.
The Mapping Exercise
My mapping was done in a journal that I keep but is summarized here. I outlined the things I am interested in generally and what I am interested in writing about, what roles I play, and how my values shape the opinions or thoughts I have on the subjects in play. All of this to hopefully give me some direction of where to take my online writing.
We All Have Different Roles
The first thing I reflected on is who I am as a person and writer. I am a spouse, parent, athlete, business professional, sibling, and son. I am in my thirties. My days are spent with the people I love and I try to do things that enrich my life rather than drain energy.
And I Am Interested In A Lot Of Things
Some people are only interested in one subject when it comes to their writing, but I have always been someone who has a number of interests. Just a few that I mapped included:
- Sports
- Business
- Travel
- The Outdoors
- Running
- Pop Culture
- Family
- Community
- Strategy
- Business Operations
- Health
All of these interests interact with my roles in some way. For example, when I watch sports, I view them as a parent and athlete, as well as a general fan. When I consume great writing on what is going on with ESPN’s recent move into sports betting, I am able to see it through a business and strategic lens, as well as acknowledge my personal opinions on sports betting.
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I can point to these types of specific interactions between my roles and interests throughout the entire list. The beauty of it all is that there must be a lot to write about that hasn’t been.
But What Is Actually Worth Writing About?
Some of those subjects may make for good writing, as in there is some bigger idea worth exploring. Others may not. Just recounting my experience on a hike may be better served as a journal entry and not a piece that is going to drive readership online.
I’ve realized that good writing is less about the topic itself, and more about these bigger ideas. As I look at my writing, the pieces that did well all contained this similarity, while the others with low views or reads stayed at the surface level.
Finding Direction
By combining my roles and interests and focusing on the big ideas, I am able to produce good writing that is meaningful. It’s helpful to remember that when I am in a rut. But there is a kicker. Like any craft, it must be done consistently to get better. I can’t run 6 miles today and then take a month off if I want to get better as a runner. Writing is no different. Writing more is the fundamental way to get better at writing.
So with this, I am ready to attack the next stage of my writing journey.
