Hit 'Publish' - and free up your soul
The space you create by hitting publish lets you express the next thing that is on your conscious. The more you hold back & bottle things up, the more the highway of your ideas is jammed. Hit Publish.
After noticing that I had 44 published pieces but 175 unpublished drafts on my Medium page, I decided to join a Writing Fellowship and do something about my publication hesitation. It was a rewarding experience. My biggest takeaway from it was a commitment to write everyday, And that the next time I think something is “almost ready”, I’m going to just Hit Publish. Screenshots from the WhatsApp group with peers from the workshop suggest that this idea hits home (ignore typos).
Hitting Publish isn’t a buzzword that just applies to writing. It is a way of life.
Remember the last party you went to? There was someone who was telling fascinating stories about mundane things, and they were the center of attention. Most of the other people in the party people were listening. The stories weren’t that unique, you had also had a similar incident with Covid, Your friend had also gone through a similar parking disaster. Come to think of it, you have had a very similar life as that storyteller person at the party. It is just that you didn’t think that your stories were worth telling.
Sometimes, when you scroll through people’s infinitely picturesque lives on Instagram, it feels like your life isn’t nearly as fascinating as theres. And that’s the difference. People put up the highlight reels of their lives, but most of us compare our mundane daily moments to these highlight reels and come up short on confidence.
I’m writing this piece to remind you of this truth. That your stories, your ideas, your dilemmas, are just as interesting as anyone else’s. Tell us about them. Hit Publish.
If you publish your work, there’s a chance that no one will read it, if you don’t publish your work, there’s a guarantee that no one will read it.
Stephen King is an American author, his books have sold more than 350 million copies, and many have been adapted into films, television series, miniseries, and comic books. He wrote a memoir called “On writing” (summary), his biggest lesson was:
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” - Stephen King
Basically what that means is that once an idea has been expressed from your soul to your medium of choice. Whether it be words, or paintings, songs or poetry. Let it out. Hit Publish. Let people take it in.
It may not become a huge sensation, it may not even be a mini sensation.
But It may be something.
The only way to know, is to put it out there.
Once it is out there, it'll have a chance to be something
It won’t be bottled up inside You.
And once your insides are clear then a new idea can find a place there. Between your brain (which overthinks) and your heart (which overfeels), is the place new ideas are born, you need to keep the space clear for them.
In case you're a creator, and you already write, or sing, or rap or beat box but you're holding it back within you because 'its not perfect' or 'its not got the right medium'
Or 'my work won't get the merit it deserves because it isn't a fully published book.' Stop making excuses.
I have a friend who’s a designer by day, a musician when he’s high, and a storyteller in his soul. He writes novels and stories each day. After writing over 50 stories, he’s still making excuses for not having a public blog. He was telling me today that he’s putting the finishing touches to the design of his website until he feels ready to start putting his stories out there. Do you know how long he’s owned the website? Since May 2017… so… 49 months. I told him that his website is already good enough, so maybe the reason he’s still not putting his craft out there is the fear of how the world will react to his stories. He immediately agreed and said “maybe I need a coach or an editor”.
I said “maybe you just need to hit publish”.
We now have a bet that either he publishes something today, or our next dinner is on him. If you know of any other creatives holding back their work from the world, share this piece with them.
Remember, the lifestyle of hitting publish lets you break free and realize that you can edit things later. You can revise. This is not an exam which a teacher will grade. This is a canvas that you can keep returning to. This is your expression, your answer, no matter what it is, it is the right answer.
People will consume your expression and some of them will change their perspective. Maybe your work will even get them to act, because you put something out there. And that is a miraculous moment.
We need you to hit publish.
Put your work out there.
It might change my life if you did. And even if it doesn't change anything. It creates space in your body. In your soul . When you've expressed one part of your soul, one idea, one song, one moment. Another moment, another idea, another piece of your soul can express itself more freely.
Just like physical space, our ideas need space. Just like you need to vent or yell, or tell someone you love that you love them, or tell someone that hurt you, they hurt you. Same way, your expression needs to be out in the open.
So it can breathe. Even if you’re a very private person, let your private thoughts breathe in the open.
Like good wine. Things gets better with a few moments of air.
Hit publish.
Let things breathe in the public air.
We're all better off with it. And so are you.
It is hard to see the world through your eyes if you don't show it to us. - Prateek Jain
Since I created this newsletter last month, a few hundred people read and reach out to me each week about the things I express. It is gratifying, but more importantly it frees up my system. Once an idea is out there, I can spend my energy on my next idea. Hitting publish once a week has changed my life and freed up my soul. May you find its benefits too.
This weekly newsletter maybe Too Honest for you if you don’t like candor. But if you’re the curious sort, who wants a peek into what a global life is like, hit subscribe. And hit the like button if this inspires you to hit publish on your work.
That's such a wonderful piece, Prateek! Loved it :)
I *really* needed to hear / read this.
You have lit a spark over a silo full of very dry cotton. You have provided a catalyst and triggered a chemical reaction that I didn't know I needed to experience.
One of the mantra I decided for myself in 2014 was "Create and share, and create and share again," and your post reminds me of that commitment.
Thank you for sharing this very honest post and thank you for giving me a push.
After three years, I bring you the first of many...
https://degutierre.medium.com/skewer-and-feed-ec5525fdc96d