Yes, Internet is a tool. It can help us connect and learn and communicate. We use it to find information, to amuse ourselves, to do our job. And we use it because we want to learn more things, new things, better things.
I want to learn how to improve my writing. How to better communicate with my tribe and share my thoughts. I am trying to find out the right tone of voice, the right topic, the best way to put my words in a line so people can understand me. And help me.
In my effort to achieve this I have been bombarded by “how to …” posts. There are hundreds of them on any topic, often entailing conflicting guidelines.
Do write often – Do not write often
Do write for content mills – Do not write for content mills
Do share personal staff – Do not share personal staff
There is lists and lists of “how to …” and “what to do …” everywhere online. And once they find out you are interested, they overwhelm you with e-mails and webinars and magical documents that solve everything.
My problem is, I am starting to feel they are lacking in honesty. Somebody somewhere decided that this type of posts and articles interest people. That they draw traffic and establish platforms. And maybe they do. I don’t know. So many websites are doing this, I guess it must be working!
But those writers, do they really think about me when they write? Do they think of a person, any person, as they write? Or do they follow the rules of success? Make up a list of instructions, make them easy to read and simple and approachable and off it goes. I am starting to feel neglected.
How about we share more truth and less guidelines? The most useful and inspirational piece of content I read online recently was the interview of Judith Kerr in the Guardian. She is a 95 years old woman and every day she writes her books, she draws, she walks to the river. In her interview she simply talks about her life, her choices, her way of doing things. And that is great. She shares her experience with no intention to teach the reader or offer instructions. She just lives the way that is fulfilling for her. I wish to become like that one day. And she simply talks about her life. That is truly inspirational!
Back to the “how to …” content. I think I’ve already had enough. I long to read more true stories, honest stories, human stories about writing, living, learning. And maybe that is the path I am to follow.
What do you think about all those articles offering guidelines? Do you enjoy them or have you also had enough?
Do you think they lack soul?
Evgenia's Writing Atelier 
To tell you the truth, I sometimes find myself searching for guidelines throughout the Internet, as well.
It’s so easily done!
And, yes, you are right, there are hundreds of posts on any topic.
On anything you can imagine.
It’s all about supply and demand, of course. The more you read them, the more they keep cropping up.
By now, I’ve come to realise that many of them will not answer my questions, at least not in the way I would like them to be answered.
Not because they lack information.
They do not speak to me, because they lack personal care.
From time to time, we have to ask ourselves : Mass produced or handcrafted?
Dear friend, I encourage you to keep writing and to keep revealing your truth!
Old values are starting to be appreciated more and more in this overcrowded world.
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I so agree with you! Thank you!!
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