Is writing something anyone can learn to do or does it require an innate talent or ability? Does grammar matter? Am I too technically minded to be creative? Do I need a qualification to write a book?

Can anyone write?

This is a question every client has asked me during our initial consultation meetings.

My answer is yes. Anyone can learn to write.

In the simplest of terms, ‘writing’ is the process of putting thoughts or ideas into physical words on a screen or page in front of you. If you know how to read, then yes, you can write. And if you can write, you can become a writer. In fact, I would argue that not only can everyone write, but that they should.

Learning to write with intention – whatever those intentions might be – can set someone on the critical path to self-discovery, improvement, and confidence. Let’s break that down.

For most people, writing is a skill we use every day. From texting, to work emails, and even making notes, it is a practical necessity. What we overlook, is that each of those words is more than a simple reminder or message… It is a mode of self-expression. What words we choose, the order we place them in, and the tone we adopt, all change the way the information is expressed. Even the simplest of writing applications can be thought of as a method to convey our internal thoughts and feelings into the external world. An idea is channeled from our minds to our hands, and outwardly expressed on the page (or in most cases, the screen).

Once you realize the impact of the writing you already do, it is possible to imagine the power of intentional writing. Whether you want to write a memoir, start a blog, or get comfortable with journalling, the ability to improve your writing will also improve your ability to communicate by better aligning how you think with what you say; Becoming more comfortable with writing means becoming more comfortable with yourself.

So why does writing feel so difficult?

Facing your words on the page is not so different from looking at your reflection in the mirror; It is a reflection of your inner self that can feel raw and personal. Like with a physical reflection, it is easy at first to pull out the imperfections and things you don’t like. The idea of sharing our writing with the public opens up this vulnerable internal expression to judgment. There is a fear that others will judge us the way we judge ourselves.

Often it is this fear of what might happen that stops us from starting.

Over time, however, as you work to improve your writing, you find that you are also improving the relationship between yourself and your reflection. The more familiar you become with your voice as a writer, the easier it becomes to access that mystical creative flow. Instead of feeling apprehension and fear and the thought of writing, you start to experience excitement of the prospect of what might come out of a writing session.

Starting to write with intention changes the way we see ourselves. It builds confidence and creates efficiency in communicating needs and desires. In terms of professional benefits, writing can open new career paths, help you better sell yourself on paper, and allow you to outperform others at written workplace tasks.

If anyone can write, then a new question arises… How do I start?

Here are Five Easy Tips for any new writers struggling to actually sit down and well…write:

Five Easy Steps to Start Writing:

1. Download Grammarly. One of the biggest roadblocks to start writing is fears around bad grammar or spelling. Whilst this may have held someone back in the past, in 2024 there are countless (free) tools that can take on that burden for you. The ability to spell complex words or implement a semi-colon is unrelated to the quality of your writing. You can pay someone to proofread your work, you cannot pay them to write in your voice.
2. Write like no one’s reading. It is all too easy to put too much pressure on ourselves when we first start out. Imagining that final products whether it’s a book, blog post, or completed journal can be a big motivation, but often ends up as a bigger block to start. Deciding how to perfectly phrase that first line or sentence can seem an impossible task to start. So don’t. The first step is to simply put pen to paper and write anything. Try writing a practice version of that first project that no one will read and will never be used… You might just find the words flow much more easily without the pressure of a final project.
3. Find a low-fi playlist. Finding it impossible to focus? Every time you sit down to try and write you end up scrolling on your phone or chatting to your friend? Find a low-fi playlist, put in your best noise-canceling headphones, and turn your phone to Do Not Disturb. Something about the music helps distract your mind just enough to fully focus on the task at hand.
4. Tell someone. Accountability is key. It may be tempting to keep your new hobby or project as a secret, but secrecy breeds procrastination! Without cementing your goals into reality, there’s nothing to tie them to it. Try telling a friend what you’re working on and speak it into reality. Need more accountability? Look into coaching, or joining a writing group – anything to ensure you don’t let this idea just pass you by.
5. Schedule writing into your calendar. And I mean now. Open your calendar app and find a one-hour window you can commit to, then make a calendar event. It’s way too easy to keep the idea of writing as an abstract concept. If you want to get real about starting the project, then you need to actually start it.

I have worked with a multitude of clients from CEOs to theatre directors. Some came to me having written books or screenplays in the past, others were complete beginners.

All had one goal: to write. I’m yet to work with someone who wasn’t able to achieve it.

So can anyone write? Yes.

Can anyone be good at writing? To answer that you must consider what it means to be a ‘good’ writer. Being published? Being a confident writer? Being a daily writer?

Only you can define being ‘good’ for yourself. What drives you to want to write? Why do you want to start? And what do you hope to gain from writing?

Here is the real question: Why do you want to write?