Beating The Blank Page, The 3 Step Confidence Builder, Finding Your Niche, and More

Read Time: 5 minutes

Greetings Doctors and Writers,

Here are 5 ideas to help you become a better writer this week.

Today at a glance:

Question: How to beat the blank page

Quote: On finding your niche

Framework: The 3-step confidence builder

Idea: Solve your problems, share the solutions

Video: How to start an email newsletter

Question: How to beat the blank page

The blank page paralyzes even the most experienced writers in their tracks.

If you’ve struggled with this before, start with a simple yet powerful question: 

“What’s a topic I can write about for hours, unprepared?” 

Set a timer for 10 minutes, pick one topic, and write without stopping or editing.

This exercise unlocks your innate curiosity and aligns your writing with your core expertise.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a hobby, a topic you’ve recently delved into, or an under-discussed aspect of healthcare; you start from a place of passion and knowledge and tap into a well of ideas that flow naturally.

The result?

Writing that is authentic, authoritative, and deeply engaging.

Quote on Finding Your Niche

The lesson: If you want to amplify the reach of your words, you need to narrow your focus. Speak directly to a specific group, because the more specific you are, the more powerful your message will be.

Framework: The 3-step confidence builder

Building confidence as a writer does not happen overnight, especially for doctors and healthcare founders.

It requires you to unlearn the habit of hiding behind complicated jargon and getting comfortable with clear and concise ways of presenting your words.

Here’s a three-step framework to help you gain confidence and write with authority:

1. Break the ice

Your first step is to focus on short-form or micro-content. 

Choose an idea from your daily practice or recent experiences and condense the idea into 150 words. 

A simple formula you can follow is to start with a hook (surprising fact, insightful question), unique insight, and end with a call to action or reflection.

Once you’re ready, hit publish on a social media platform of your choice. The goal is to break the ice and get comfortable sharing your insights with the world.

2. Collect data

The next step is to build a systematic feedback loop you can stick with. 

If you start with publishing once a week, work up to three times a week.

Measure the responses to your writing, such as likes, comments, and shares. They are a good way to gauge if your words are resonating with your readers.

Pay attention to which posts spark conversations and receive positive feedback. Repeat this process weekly and work on your iterative loop of writing, publishing, and refining.

3. The content ladder

Once you’ve got started and created a systematic cadence, expand on your content’s depth and complexity. 

Say for instance you wrote a 150-word piece on a psychology tip you’d learned, which received positive responses from your audience. 

Take it further by elaborating on the key concepts in 400-600 words. You can use structures like ‘problem-solution’, or ‘5 key takeaways from x lesson’. Your goal is to expand on what’s worked and create a library of impactful pieces of content.

Keep in mind that you won’t build your confidence solely by focusing on quantity.

You build confidence by focusing on deliberate practice, feedback, and knowing exactly how to measure your growth.

Idea: Solve your problems, share the solutions

One of the most common mistakes we see new writers make is that they try to impress others by solving any and every problem they can find. 

In some cases, this approach works, but in others, it leads to writing about generic topics that are either too broad, vague, or simply lack personality.

Luckily, there’s a simple way to solve this.

Here’s how it works:

1. Identify an obstacle

Think about some of the challenges you are facing right now. 

Maybe you’re struggling to find a balance between work and other responsibilities, or even finding your way through the world of writing online. 

Whatever it is, write them down and set your mind to the most pressing one for this week.

2. Research and reflect

Outline your problem in detail and use writing as the tool to clarify your thinking. 

Ask yourself:

• What’s made this issue so challenging?

• What are the key obstacles in place?

• What have others in your field done in similar situations?

As you write, you’re bound to form new connections and find insights you hadn’t considered before.

3. Share your solution

Once you’ve identified a solution or even just a clearer perspective on your problem, share it with your audience. 

Be honest about the obstacle. 

Be clear about your thought process.

Be specific with the solution you have found or are working towards.

Your authenticity will resonate deeply because it turns your vulnerability into value for others who may be facing similar issues.

Don’t just write to teach, write to learn.

Not only will this make writing easier and more engaging for you, but it will also create a genuine connection with your audience.

Video: How to start an email newsletter

A newsletter is a key component of every successful writer’s digital disposal. 

In this video, Ali Abdaal simplifies the complexities of starting an email newsletter.

If you’re considering taking the next step with your writing, this one is for you.

Alright, that’s all for today. We hope these insights help you take another step forward in building your online presence.

If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, just hit reply to this email. As always, we’d love to hear from you.

Have a lovely week ahead.

— Adi and Pranav