This post is a little different today. I've been idling in #steemprentice for at least a week now and I feel I still haven't done my bit to contribute yet, and @sycochica has been an amazing help to me in #project-positivity on more than one occasion.

A question I see bouncing about #steemprentice often is "how much should I write?" and it plagues quite a few writers on every level. Sometimes even me. I bet George R R Martin occasionally has to go back to the drawing board.

"I want to make a point. How would I get started on doing so?"

I'll start with a story (I always start with a story!).

We'll start around six years ago when one fateful night I decided to rekindle the flame of putting pen to paper. Or in today's case keyboard to WordPress. I have always had a passion for writing, but my father smashed my dreams. He told me I'd never amount to anything by following writing. But around then he had just kicked the bucket, and I was exploring myself in new and exciting ways beyond his smothery toxic control.

I was beginning my new job, and as it was a step up in responsibility from my last position. I was now managing managers. And with great responsibility comes a whackload of stress I kid you not. Some nights I'd go home and worry all night, because it wasn't just a service, I was playing with the betterment and aspirations of other people.

And that night I was frustrated. Frustrated that I couldn't turn to anyone to talk it through, the buck stopped with me. And my wife, well, she was biased anyway. Comforting she was though, I'll admit!

So I had known about WordPress for a long time but hadn't been bothered to try it, as beforehand I had no cause to use it. This time I did though, and to the complaining I took it. I hashed out one of the most spiteful, angry and frustrated story that named no names or workplaces I had ever put to writing.

And you know what happened?

People read it.

And the comments started to come in: they had been there before, were in the same position now, could relate, can understand. The comments, they were very heartfelt. If I'm honest I enjoyed the attention. So I wrote another, and another, and ten more, until it happened that every night after work I'd come in and write something. Anything. What was happening. It became a good way to process my emotions.

Yet one fateful day I was let go from my job because my funding had run out and there were no other opportunities available. Sadly, this is what it's like working with charities today. Tight funding. On a positive note I was one of the last people to be let go. Our team of fourteen was whittled down to three and all three of us were let go eventually and at the same time.

So I knew I was being let go and I did have a plan - I was going to write. But of course those underlying questions. what should I write and how long should make it.

Well, after a good two years of seeing what works and what doesn't, I came to the conclusion that do what you like doing. That's always what works best. If you enjoy your work it shows. It shines like a super-bright beacon of light through a foggy night.

If you enjoy motor-racing, write about that. If you enjoy sports, write about that. Hell if you enjoy travelling the world write about that too! Best example: @heiditravels

I once worried too much about the audience I was trying to reach, spent hours trying to think how they thought, and became too bogged down writing robotically in a form that wasn't true to myself.

But as it happens - if you write about what you love, and from the heart, your audience will find you. Especially on Steemit. 

You breed what you create in essence. If you create heartfelt messages, expect those back. If you create a discussion on advanced algorithms, expect that back, and, if you isolate and patronise your audience, expect that back!

Just a few tips though. 

You'll never reach newbies to computing by talking about complex machine logic and lower level programming, and you'll never reach people that want to better themselves by using industry buzz words. 

I like to keep my writing on a level that everyone can understand. It's not about getting from hero to zero in one post, it's about peaking interest and creating a start in a beautiful journey for me

But, the reverse can be said for the above. Never write for a newbie if you want to reach advanced programmers and never talk to the masses if you want to reach psychologists and similar.