What Does It Mean To Be A Soul Writer?

The Soul vs Social Writer Series - Part 2

Jan 25, 2023

I was going through a creative renaissance in October of last year when I wrote the essay - Which Kind Of Writer Are You? - A Soul Writer Or A Social Writer?

It was an essay where I didn't have any outline or a call to action - the usual jazz content creators suggest you put. I just had this ache in my heart and wanted to give words to it. So I typed that essay for as long as my heart wanted to speak.

I didn't expect anyone to relate to or understand what I was saying in that essay. Writing that essay was actually my way of understanding who I was as a writer. I was trying to find out why I wasn't feeling fulfilled in the job of my dreams. Not only did I find out where I was going wrong in my Writing journey, but I also found others felt the same.

Which Kind Of Writer Are You? - A Soul Writer Or A Social Writer? turned into one of my most engaged essays.

This made me realise that I should dive deeper into this topic - for my sake and yours, my creative friends.

Who is a Soul Writer?

It was a Sunday afternoon of 25th May 2014. I was in the grips of depression, and one of my solaces was reading novels.

This afternoon, I was reading Agatha Christie's Curtain. I was in the grips of this novel as well as the twists and turns kept coming, keeping me reading and twisting and turning on my bed. It was around 4pm when I finished the book. I was lying flat on my back, looking at the ceiling fan, but my vision was lost somewhere far beyond. The expression on my face was what you would call ecstatic.

I was crying because the book brought the life of one of my favourite characters to an end. And I was also happy because I got the privilege to live a portion of my life with him.

I was also shocked how someone could write such an extraordinary book that moved me and made me emote all kinds of emotions one could find in the human feeling dictionary. I kept reliving the book in my mind, and another bout of tears and smiles would grace my face.

While I was still understanding and experiencing the book, I heard myself speak in my mind.

"It would be so amazing if I could make others feel the way Agatha Christie makes me feel."

The voice kept speaking, and what it said next changed the direction of my life.

"Yes, I will become a writer."

If I wasn't already high on the book, I definitely became high on those two statements. Every cell in my body woke up. Bright light was pouring out my eyes, and fireworks were happening in my brain. And my heart was dancing like a happy puppy.

Incidents like this are a sure sign of being a Soul Writer.

You know you are a Soul Writer when the thought of becoming a writer for life drops into your consciousness. It is a call from your soul, deep within you. The day you heard this call is a clear milestone in your life. That is, there is a clear distinction between your life before and after this moment.

Also, chances are, before this moment, you never considered Writing as a professional option for you. There was a moment in my life when I hated Reading. It took me the right motivation from my teacher and aligning with the right book to fall in love with Reading. And that led to, seven years later, my light blub moment.

You may not know what you want to write at the beginning of this journey. Or you may not know how to write what's happening inside your head and heart. But you know one thing for sure - you have this deep desire, this deep craving, to give words to your thoughts and feelings. There is something deep inside you that you can't give a name that wants to come out onto the paper.

Something that will make most writing gurus online angry is that the market is not your first concern. It's not that you don't care if the market reads your book. It's just that while writing the book (or essay, poem, novel, or caption), you need to let the words pour out of you.

After you're done writing, you figure out a way to package your words in the most impactful way for the readers.

The above point is also one of the reasons why you don't feel good enough as a writer - just because you're not following the trends or what the writing coaches are teaching.

In the beginning, finding your place as a writer, your niche, and your voice is challenging. Therefore it becomes tricky to find readers.

The best way to solve this issue (or any other writer's issues like writer's block, procrastination, perfectionism, etc.) and the only way to approach such a writing journey is the spiritual route.

Writing is both an art and a science. It is emotional and practical. Usually, we are taught to see and work on the practical side of Writing in the hopes of making noticeable progress and quick success. But if your writing lacks emotions, no matter how many tricks you apply to your words to make them go viral, they won't work.

This is why, no matter which kind of writer you are - Soul or Social, you need to have a spiritual approach. Especially while you are engaged in the process of writing.

When I say spiritual route, I mean two things -

One - trust that you have what it takes to write this book.

Two - trust that there is an invisible power helping you.

Trusting yourself is about believing in your capability. It's about working hard to become skilful. It's about not letting failures or negative comments make you leave this path. It is about knowing that you wouldn't have had this dream if you weren't capable enough to give it a shot. Only through trusting in yourself and consistently hammering on that keyboard your words get polished, and your voice becomes louder.

The second part can be tricky for many. I know this because it was tricky for me as well.

Trust that there is an invisible power helping you. This is a statement that many will laugh off. Not because it is funny but because they believe it is not true. Or an even stronger reason for laughing at this statement is thinking that we humans make or break this world and our lives.

Our upbringing has taught us that if we work hard enough, follow the rules, be practical, be productive 24x7, and follow a strict schedule, we can achieve whatever we want. Everything is in our hands, in our control. Well, I am sorry to burst your bubble; everything is not in your hands. If it were, you would never have a failure or disappointment or heartbreak ever in your life.

Whether you accept it or not, there is an invisible power out there working. Now how to make it work in your favour is in your hands.

This invisible power doesn't need to be a God. It can be anything or anyone you have deep respect for. It can be any God or Goddess from any religion. It can be the stars and planets. It can be Nature. Or, like for me, it can be your lost loved ones and (dead/alive) idols.

Believing in an invisible power helps ease the tension in your head and heart.

It helps you trust the process and timing of life. It helps you enjoy the process of Writing. It helps you know that a bad day doesn't mean you are a bad writer. It takes off the unnecessary weight of proving yourself - Writing is never about that; it's about exploring and excavating yourself and the world around you.

If you don't like these two reasons for writing being a spiritual journey, here is another one.

Writing will change you as a human being - inside and outside.

Any creative endeavour has that power. Writing will change how to behave not only with others but with yourself as well. It will change your view of the world. It will change your values and beliefs. It will change how you approach life and everything in it.

But here's the catch - Writing will change you as a human being - inside and outside - only if you don't let your stubborn human ego come in between.

Have you ever heard the phrase - "get out of your own way"? The above sentence is what that means.

As a writer, especially a Soul writer, you can't let your human ego come in between you and your creativity.

Thinking about how many likes, views, and comments your essay will get is letting the ego win. Using click-bait titles and never delivering what you promised is ego at play. Thinking about money first is the ego's desire. Thinking you must take that writing course first is ego scratching your self-worth. Thinking that you need to write the perfect sentence is ego being a perfectionist. Thinking that you can skip on sleep and hustle hard is ego slowly killing you. Thinking you're not good enough is ego killing your soul.

Anything that stops you from writing or makes you doubt yourself is your ego at play.

Why Should You Be A Soul Writer?

The term "Soul Writer" answers that question.

You can't be a writer if you and your words don't have a soul.

You miss out on having a soul when you don't acknowledge your inner voice. When you let outside circumstances and people influence who or what you should be. You're missing a soul when you don't listen to what your heart wants to say.

Your words miss out on having a soul when you write what you think (influenced by trends, market and gurus) you should write instead of letting what wants to be written come out of you. When you write generic stuff. When you write what's "sellable." When you write to feel like a person of importance. When you write to diminish others. That's when your words are missing a soul.

As a Soul Writer, you are a pen - a medium - through which subconsciousness speaks.

It also doesn't matter if you plot or pants, while engaged in the act of writing, you need to let the words flow out without any restrictions and doubts.

When you let your creativity speak freely, without any fear, it'll speak sentences, phrases and storylines you would have never consciously thought of.