Disclaimer:

You no longer live in your world. Instead, everything you are is now locked in a dojo called Write-Fu. There are no rules, and the only limitations are the ones you set upon yourself. The temple is completely packed, leaving you just enough room to write with your dull pen.

Time to sharpen the artist.

Periods, paragraphs, sentences, subheadings and grammar are all mechanics used to confine your limitlessness into text other people can understand. Periods, paragraphs, sentences, subheadings and grammar are not mechanics to confine you.

You . . .

Are not meant to be confined. Your limitlessness defines you. Your ability to perceive life outside the rules and beyond the limitations gives you the clarity to wield your pen. You cannot confine yourself to word count, productivity, workable endings, or demographics until you realize you are beyond all of that.

Writing is an art form; language is not.

Language is intended for the masses to communicate as effortlessly as possible. The only way to make language effective is to have rules, set definitions, and for the most part, gross limitations. There is nothing wrong with rules, limitations, and set definitions. This becomes especially true if you ever have the misfortune of trying to communicate with a 13-year-old through text messages.

Writing is not a language.

It’s a painting with words, fueled by an artist’s unique uninhibited perspective of the planet we all inhabit. The key to creativity is being uninhibited. The world has rules, regulations, and set definitions. That is why we need your words to take us beyond them. To paint the world we know too well in such a new way it just resonates. And the only way to be that voice, is to live outside the restrictions. Creative minds create.

The secret is in the Mona Lisa.

If you had a copy of the original painting and asked a preschooler to trade you, your Mona Lisa for his or her lunch box, chances are, you would still have your Mona Lisa. Content excellence has nothing to do with what the reader can understand, but everything to do with how you go about depicting your ability.

Don’t get locked in your demographic.

If your full potential transcends what your demographic can understand, change demographics. Do not choose to not produce your version of the Mona Lisa because it doesn’t resonate with your market. Great writing is the ability to paint everything you are into your subject. Great writing is not supposed to be understood by everyone.

On to Leonardo De Vinci

There are multiple theories that explain why he painted the Mona Lisa, but not a single theory is geared towards him wanting to reach a wider audience. He brought his limitlessness into his art, because that’s the silent oath people take when they call themselves an artist. Now the Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the entire world.

Can you see how much you handicap your writing by starting at the point of what’s understandable to the masses, and not at the point of striving to tap into your full potential?

If you do, then just write.

Write without periods, sentences, grammar, productivity quotas, or demographic criteria. Just write based on your own uninhibited idea of what content excellence looks like. The world wants to see it, whether they tell you or not. History has shown it wants to see your idea of content excellence. Don’t shy away based on marketability. You’re above that.

Brandon Yawa, over and out.