Write it as if no one is watching

Write as if no one is ever going to read it.

Yeah, you heard me right. It's the same as dancing like no one is watching - a freeing kind of crazy. Every mentor and experienced writer I have crossed paths with has offered the same piece of advice: forget the world, write for yourself.

In my office, there's a little note that stares me down, asking, "Are you holding back?" It's a nudge, not just about rewrites, but about diving deep.

Because, let's face it, rewrites are the raw, messy "why am I doing this again" type. But between you and me, the mess is almost always what leads to the magic.

So here's to writing without filters, even if my inner perfectionist cringes at the thought. After all, the best stories aren't crafted by guidelines. They are crafted by gumption.