I started my garden/design/build/plant business 34 years ago with what looked like a business letter that I stuffed in 200 mailboxes in my neighborhood. Probably got 6 or 7 calls and most of those turned into jobs and word of mouth took care of the rest. Sometimes old-school is the best school.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the writing. My best advice to aspiring writers? Recognize that we learn to write, basically the same way we learn to talk: we internalize the sounds of those around us speaking. And we learn to write by internalizing the “sound” of whatever we’re reading. So if you internalize the sound of great writing, vs. mediocre writing, you’re writing will be the better for it.
And I think the best writing in the Anglo-sphere is in the New Yorker magazine. Just the best, cleanest, most engaging story telling for curious people.
My writing took a huge step up when I moved in with my wife and started reading her subscription. I had taken a break from writing for the local papers for beer money. And after two years of reading the NYer, I was inspired to write something that came out better than my old writing. Took me awhile to figure out it was my reading practice that had changed my writing. I hadn’t taken any classes or read any books about writing in that 2 year break.
Since then I’ve had two essays in the NY Times, 2 essays in the Wall St. Journal, an essay in Forbes and essays, op-eds, columns and articles in dozens of other magazines and newspapers.
As well as three best selling non-fiction books with traditional publishers that are earning me money in my sleep.
The single biggest reason for that track record is reading the weekly issues of the NYer.
I started my garden/design/build/plant business 34 years ago with what looked like a business letter that I stuffed in 200 mailboxes in my neighborhood. Probably got 6 or 7 calls and most of those turned into jobs and word of mouth took care of the rest. Sometimes old-school is the best school.
Well done on the water crossing. What bike were you on ?
Thanks! If I remember correctly it’s a CF Moto 800MT Touring
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the writing. My best advice to aspiring writers? Recognize that we learn to write, basically the same way we learn to talk: we internalize the sounds of those around us speaking. And we learn to write by internalizing the “sound” of whatever we’re reading. So if you internalize the sound of great writing, vs. mediocre writing, you’re writing will be the better for it.
And I think the best writing in the Anglo-sphere is in the New Yorker magazine. Just the best, cleanest, most engaging story telling for curious people.
My writing took a huge step up when I moved in with my wife and started reading her subscription. I had taken a break from writing for the local papers for beer money. And after two years of reading the NYer, I was inspired to write something that came out better than my old writing. Took me awhile to figure out it was my reading practice that had changed my writing. I hadn’t taken any classes or read any books about writing in that 2 year break.
Since then I’ve had two essays in the NY Times, 2 essays in the Wall St. Journal, an essay in Forbes and essays, op-eds, columns and articles in dozens of other magazines and newspapers.
As well as three best selling non-fiction books with traditional publishers that are earning me money in my sleep.
The single biggest reason for that track record is reading the weekly issues of the NYer.
Hi Max,
Excellent article!
You might want to look at https://maldo.uy/
You can say it’s the Uruguayan Yelp. You can probably post your business Ad on there as well.
Thanks Gio!
Thank you Maxim. I like the reports on your adventures in this post and I like your thoughts in other posts. You inspire me.
Excellent work young man, im watching you and excited to get my boys following your path. They are 14, 11, 10, 8 and 6 right now, so coming soon.