Want to Write? This Article Is for You!

Inspiration and practical steps to start on Medium today

Every sunrise gives us a new story — Photo by Florian Haider on Unsplash

A warm sunrise over a forested mountain range, with golden light illuminating treetops and a thick layer of clouds filling the valleys below.

You’ve been thinking about writing for a while now. But you hesitate: Can I really write well enough? Will anyone read it? And what should I write about? Good news: all these doubts are normal — and no reason NOT to start.

In this article, I’ll help you overcome those doubts, show you why writing is so valuable, and give you practical steps to publish your first story.

Why Do You Hesitate to Write?

You want to write, but you haven’t — yet. Let’s look at some common reasons people hesitate — and I’ll counter each one. Because — why wouldn’t you write?

Can I really write well enough?

You only need to answer to yourself — other people’s judgments aren’t relevant. This isn’t just important for writing, but for your entire life. You write first and foremost for yourself. If you think it’s good enough, then it is good enough. What’s more, by writing you’ll naturally get better. Not writing solves nothing.

English isn’t my native language, and it’s not good enough

Then start by writing in your own language. One advantage: people in your own circle — who might also be less comfortable with English — will read your stories, giving you more writing experience and helping you build an audience. Later, you can (also) start writing in English. Alternatively, you can have Grammarly, DeepL, or an AI chatbot translate your work.

Will anyone even want to read my stories?

Where there’s a story, there’s a reader. Unless you’re hoping to get rich from writing, become a bestselling author, or depend on writing for income, it’s really about enjoying the process. A story can sit in a drawer for a year and then strike just the right chord — but that only happens if you’ve written it. You’re also the only one who can write your story. The only one.

I’m afraid people will think I’m stupid

Just teasing: does that depend on writing? There will always be people who think you and I are stupid — so what? There are even people who enjoy being thought stupid by others — how liberating is that? Reading your stories isn’t mandatory, and those who do read them are looking for your voice. Suppose 5 people think it’s stupid and 1 person loves it — you’ve achieved something fantastic.

I don’t have time to write

Yeah, I can’t argue with this one — it’s an excuse you can hold onto for your whole life. The question is whether this is really a reason, or whether you’re conveniently using it to avoid thinking about the real reason. But let’s face it: you’ve made it this far reading — clearly there’s a desire to write, and you’ve found time to explore it. So make your desire to write a priority.

What’s in It for You?

Besides just having fun, there are several other interesting reasons. Experience isn’t just the best teacher — it’s also the best way to move forward. Just start writing.

Writing brings joy and meaning

Of course, this isn’t true for everyone — we’re all different, and you don’t have to be or become a writer. But never tried, never known. And if you do enjoy writing, it can bring tremendous meaning and satisfaction. You write for yourself — and if someone else benefits from it, that’s a beautiful bonus. Sharing stories is foundational to human evolution.

Become a better writer

Once you start writing, you’ll naturally improve. Anyone can write, and of course some are better at it than others. We learn by doing — by trying, failing, and trying again. We discover what we enjoy and what we’re good at — which voice is yours, which genre — where does your strength lie? Everyone is good at something, so what are you good at — someone wants to read that!

Socializing benefits everyone

When you write, you’re empathizing with your reader. You think about how your piece might be received. You structure your thoughts so others can follow and understand you. Introverts write like extroverts. Okay, I’m exaggerating a bit — but you get what I mean. A writer opens up to readers — readers connect with writers.

Personal growth

Whatever you write about, it’s a personal learning process. You convey your knowledge and experience to your readers in increasingly understandable ways. You answer questions and respond to feedback after reflecting on them, enriching your thinking. By putting yourself out there, you push yourself to offer clarity, take responsibility, and learn perspective.

Writing is healing

Writing is a creative process — you open yourself up to give something of yourself, even if you’re just writing a recipe. Two things happen. First, it sets a processing mechanism in motion — however subtle, your subconscious grabs this openness with both hands. Second, it awakens a longing — our hearts have dreams that deserve to be seen. Writing brings them into the light.

What Steps Can You Take?

Medium is above all a place where flawless prose isn’t the goal — honest stories and clear ideas are. Readers value authenticity over perfection. Writing helps you find your voice.

1. Create a Medium account

You’re reading this article, so all you need is a Medium account. Create a free account — or if you want some extra motivation, a relatively inexpensive paid account. If you do sign up for a paid Medium account through one of my paid articles, you’ll be supporting my writing — thank you!

[embed]My 7-Step Writing Alchemy From summoning the spark to moderating the dialoguemedium.com

2. Write a short story about yourself in your bio

Don’t overthink what you write — it’s really not that big a deal. You can always adjust, improve, add, and optimize later. The point is to have something there — something true, and something that describes you well enough for now to those who want to read it.

3. Write your first article

Write about something you’re passionate about and know well. Write a poem, or about something you’re working on and thinking about. Write a fictional story, or about what you’ve dreamed. Write about the movie you just watched. Write about whatever comes to mind — and write for 15 minutes without stopping. You’ve begun.

4. Publish your article on Medium

What matters is that you’ve started — not that everything is perfect right away. You learn by doing. Every subsequent article makes you wiser about using Medium and about writing. Yes, it’s scary to put yourself out there — but that’s also why you write. Hit publish without hesitation.

5. Share the link to your article

Let family, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues know that your first Medium article is online. That’s nerve-wracking. Don’t expect dozens of responses — if one or two people read it and react, you’ve achieved your goal. It’ll spread naturally from there. Just realize that your enthusiasm is now greater than your patience.

Need Help?

Hopefully, this article has inspired you to start writing here on Medium. You’re welcome in the big Medium family — there are always readers and fellow writers ready to help you. Medium also has many articles to guide (beginning) writers:

[embed]Medium Help Center Edit descriptionhelp.medium.com

If you’re curious about my adventures and motivations on Medium, start with this article I wrote:

[embed]Do You Love Varied Reading Without Ads? The benefits of Medium — and a personal offer from memedium.com

I’ve been on Medium for 7 months now — I never expected to enjoy writing this much. I’ve learned so much from writing — and I believe I’ve become a better writer. I now have many wonderful connections with readers and fellow writers here on Medium, and that’s incredibly valuable. Writing itself is more important than any single article.

Good luck — and above all, have fun!

Please let me know when your first article goes live — I’ll read it and leave a response.

Step into the flow — Photo by Anthony McKissic on Unsplash