And What To Do About It
In a world where so many voices are speaking, it’s sometimes difficult to know which voice to listen to. If you’ve been writing for a while, you must have felt this way at some point in your writing journey.
For a long time, I didn’t take online writing seriously. I thought it was for people with more experience, bigger followings, or more talent than I had.
But I didn’t know I was holding myself back, believing lies that made it impossible to see the true potential of writing online.
I didn’t start seeing the amazing opportunities in the digital world until I confronted the lies and misconceptions head-on and let them go.
So, If you’ve ever doubted whether writing online is worth it, this is for you.
In this post, I’ll be sharing 9 lies that robbed me of taking online writing seriously — and how to break free from them.
Ready? Let’s get into it.
1. You need to be an expert to start
I used to think I needed to know everything before I could start writing online So I only wrote in my journal without posting it online.
The truth is that expertise grows with constant practice and feedback. The muscles you exercise the most are usually the most toned.
You don’t need ‘a niche’ to get started. You can start writing now. Write what you know, write to solve problems, and what you’re learning along the way. With time, you’ll grow into ‘your niche’.
2. It has to be perfect
The pursuit of perfection can be exhausting. At least it was for me.
I spent too much time tweaking and editing to make my writing flawless. In the end, it still wasn’t close to being perfect.
In reality, perfection is a myth. Putting your writing out there and improving over time is more important. People value authenticity over perfection.
It’s better to put out an imperfect post every day than wait until it’s perfect. Because you learn and improve when you create in public.
3. Online writing isn’t a real job
Writing online is a full-time job. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
For years, I wrote because I love writing not because I thought it could become a viable career. This kept me from appreciating my writing skills and potential.
But that changed in 2019 when someone saw my posts on Instagram and paid me to write content for his business.
Today, online writing is a profession with endless opportunities. You can make money writing and it can be a full-time career. It might take a while when you’re starting but keep at it. It gets better in the end.
4. You need expensive tools and courses
You can tell where a man’s heart is by the things he’s constantly investing his money in. Mine were courses. So permit me to confess — I used to be an online course junkie’. Not anymore !😀
On a more serious note, you do not need high-end tools and expensive courses to be successful. While some tools can help, the basics are often enough to get started.
There are a lot of free resources and affordable options to build your skills and portfolio.
Furthermore, online courses are great, but if that’s all you’re investing your money and time in, then you’re doing it all wrong.
Today, if I were asked to advise my younger self, I’d say, start building a daily writing habit and invest in a coach or mentor. Writing daily helps you build a writing habit, while having a coach gives you access to feedback.
With coaching/mentorship and a daily writing habit, you will build a portfolio that will sell your skills without stress. Think about it.
5. The Market is Too Saturated
I struggled with this one for a long time. The belief that there are too many writers out there made me feel like I couldn’t stand out.
But the online world is vast, and there’s enough room for everyone. Besides, saturation is proof that there’s a hungry crowd in that market.
Moreover, no one else can write exactly like you. To stand out, focus on identifying gaps in the market and setting yourself apart. Your unique voice and perspective will attract the readers and audience who truly appreciate what you write.
6. You can’t make real money online
If I could earn a dollar for all the snide remarks like ‘how much do you even get paid to write’ I heard for years, it’ll probably be enough to buy a house in my country. 😀
Many people told me that writing online wouldn’t pay the bills, I should focus on something better.
I used to believe that until I earned my first affiliate income from my blog and started making money writing content for small businesses on Instagram.
You can make money writing online but you need the right strategies and dedication. It’s all about positioning. But don’t do it alone. It’s harder and takes a longer time when you do it alone.
Get a mentor or coach. Mentorship will help accelerate your growth.
On the flip side, if you cannot afford a mentor or coach, don’t let that be your excuse; start writing. Start with one or two free platforms like Medium, LinkedIn or X. You may have to write for free for a while. But this will help you build your portfolio, gain testimonials, and prove to yourself that you can do it.
After you’ve done that for a while, reach out to a small business or startup you admire and offer your services to them.
7. You have to be on every platform
If you think you have to be on every platform to be successful online, you’ve been lied to.
I was on every social media platform and it was tiring. I quit when it became overwhelming.
When you focus on too many platforms at once, you spread yourself too thin. And that can dilute your efforts.
Don’t do that to yourself. Especially if you’re a solopreneur without a team.
Go where your audience is. Pick two or three key platforms where your audience is and double down on it. With time, you can expand to other platforms.
8. It’s too late to start
There’s an adage in my country, Nigeria, that says, ‘’the day you wake up is your morning. So if you feel like you missed the boat, I want you to know that now is your morning.
No matter your age, it is never too late to start writing.
The demand for good content is still growing, and as long as you provide a unique perspective and solve problems for your audience, there’s room for you to succeed.
9. No one will care about what you write
This is probably the hardest lie to shake off.
I used to worry that my thoughts or experiences weren’t unique enough to matter. But I’ve come to understand that my (your) story matters, and there are people out there who can benefit from my (your) perspective.
Don’t let self-doubt stop you from sharing your thoughts and lending your voice.
Final Thoughts
Writing online is not for experts or people with huge followings — it’s for anyone willing to show up, learn, and put in the work. And it’s never too late to start.
So, if you’ve been holding back because of these lies, it’s time to let them go.
Your voice, your story, and your perspective are valuable. Don’t let these lies keep you from sharing them with the world. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see the incredible rewards of online writing.
