Finding that Starting Point

I realized it’s really hard to write when you don’t have the initial natural talent for it, but nevertheless, like they say, proficient writers weren’t born in a day, or short, proficiency isn’t born with someone. I thought of giving this beautiful practice of penning down thoughts a try, after my dad stressed on the importance of having the ability to analyze and write, about anything for that matter. When I was first asked about what exactly are the topics that interest you, my dad thought he was helping me out by giving me a head start. I just casually thought of a few topics- photography, books, music. But squirming in these lazy thoughts, I didn’t feel any of these topics were worthy of being written or penned down. Like what would I write? That I love doing them as a hobby, and they give me a few minutes of no ambiguity whatsoever? Initially I honestly thought it would be really futile. But as I sat down, opening a blank document, I realized deep down, that it wasn’t the thought of the topics being futile to write about which has made me procrastinating writing, but in fact, it was the scary thought of not knowing how to start.

A person's brain, according to me, is the most beautiful and sophisticated thing I’ve ever observed. It’s constantly on the run, filled with a million thoughts, constantly thinking, and constantly analyzing. What we see, what we hear are the two most influential inputs for thoughts to enter our brain. Writing, and speaking can be termed as the outputs. Through these outputs, a person can communicate these maze of thoughts running through his mind. Both of them are unique in their own way. Speaking requires a clear clarity of thought, more importantly, fluent flow of words, to be able to communicate it the way you want to, and at the same time, requires precision in doing it, because the other person should perceive it the way you want him to. Writing, on the other hand, made me realize that it confuses us. It is a common practice for everyone to first write the things we want to say, but this statement holds true for someone giving a speech, or a presentation. For me, writing was always hard.

After days of thinking, when I decided to write, this was the first topic that came into my mind, to find out that starting point. While thinking, I came up with all these ideas, as to how to start. All of us subconsciously share our thoughts through both writing and speaking, by way of chats or calls. I was first introduced to writing at school. The writing section in our English paper was dreaded the most, because it was time taking. After reading the topic given in the paper, I think it was owing to the tension in my mind that I immediately used to start writing. Once I started, there was no end. Ideas just kept flowing to me. I think that’s how writing is. It starts out difficult, but towards the end, you just can’t stop. The most important thing, is to read. Reading and researching saves content matter in our brain, so that you’ll know what to write. I’m an ardent reader, being so made me think that to first start writing, you need to acquire knowledge. Warren Buffet, the most skilled investor of our time, said ‘Reading 500 pages a day is the key to success. That’s how knowledge works, it builds up like compound interest’ he explained. For someone who wishes to write thrillers for example, he would first read the bestselling books in the thriller genre, to get an idea about the same. Wishing for something is different than working for that something. Once you start working on it, that wish becomes a reality. Have a grip on the topic you want to write about. You should be filled with so much knowledge about that topic, that you will only have a problem organizing those million thoughts you want to pen down, so that readers understand it. I summarized it to four phrases- acquiring thoughts, organizing thoughts, clarity of thoughts, and presenting these thoughts.

The reason I picked out this topic to start writing, because by teaching how to start to do so, I was learning it myself through this process. There was this quote I read in a book ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’, by Robert T Kiyosaki- ‘Teach and you shall receive. The more sincerely you teach, the more you learn’. After writing this, I guess I found out, that writing isn’t as hard it seems to be. I know for sure, that as I take up new topics to write from now on, I shall not halter as much as I did, and I won’t be as apprehensive about it as I was. It’s very important to communicate your thoughts, be it either though writing or speaking. Because that’s how people around you can know about it. That’s how ideas are shared. The start is always hazy and difficult. But once you work on it, you’ll be at ease. To reach the end, one needs to start. By being able to voice out your thoughts, you gain profound confidence, confidence that’s going to stay with you for life.