The Writer’s Compass
Image by Alex459 via Canva
And Why ‘Just Write’ Nearly Broke Me
There’s a strange lie that gets passed around the writing world.
You’ll hear it everywhere, especially if you’re just starting out:
“Just write.”
It sounds generous. Inclusive. Freeing.
But I’ll be honest—it nearly made me give up writing altogether.
Because here’s what no one says:
Yes, anyone can write.
But not everyone can write with clarity, structure, or voice.
And just like in coaching—where anyone can call themselves a coach, but not everyone can actually coach—there’s a huge difference between putting words on a page and actually writing something that matters.
The Hard Truth About Writing Advice
Years ago, during a coach training session, my mentor asked me:
“Naz, do you believe anyone can become a coach?”
I said yes.
I wanted to sound fair, open-minded. The whole group was listening.
But I didn’t believe it—not fully.
Because I knew, even then:
Yes, anyone can say they’re a coach.
But not everyone can do the work that coaching demands.
That same lesson hit me hard when I started writing.
I had over two decades of coaching experience. I knew how to guide, listen, challenge, and shift perspectives.
But when I sat down to write about mindset—something I’d coached hundreds of people through—the words came out vague. Unclear. Unconvincing.
That’s when I realised:
Knowing your craft isn’t the same as being able to write about it.
Writing Is a Skill. A Separate One.
That part no one tells you about?
The middle zone.
Where the drafts don’t land.
Where your thoughts feel stuck in your head.
Where the feedback is silence.
Where you show up again and again, and still feel like you’re going nowhere.
That’s when most writers quit.
They think it’s them.
It’s not.
It’s just that writing is a craft—one you haven’t fully learned yet.
And “just write” won’t help you cross that gap.
It won’t give you your voice.
It won’t teach you how to shape an idea that hits deep.
It won’t show you how to turn your lived experience into writing that connects.
Only time, practice, and honest reflection will do that.
What This Space Is Really About
I created The Writer’s Compass for writers who are done with the fluff.
Writers who want to build a creative practise based on truth—not algorithms.
Writers who are trying to find their real voice, not chase someone else’s tone.
The internet is full of recycled writing advice and content marketing hacks.
But underneath the noise, there’s a growing demand for writing that feels real.
Not perfect—just honest. Well-crafted. Grounded in something deeper than clicks.
That’s what this space is for.
If you’ve been writing, doubting, rewriting, and wondering if your words matter—you’re not alone.
Stay the course.
Make your writing an extension of your clarity, not your confusion.
Write badly. Then better. Then truthfully.
Because the truth is:
Your voice won’t arrive overnight.
But it will arrive—if you give it time, care, and repetition.
And when it does?
It’ll sound unmistakably like you.
Thank you for reading.
If you’re writing your way through uncertainty, The Writer’s Compass offers honest reflections to help you stay true, stay steady, and keep going.