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Natalie Tso's avatar

Loved this post Ben. I think we sometimes are afraid to be ourselves but that’s what makes each person’s writing unique. It’s our expression of who we are and what we’re thinking. I think blogging is the perfect platform to explore that.

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

Thanks Natalie. Agreed. Writing is the best tool to explore and discover who you really are

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Wai Wong's avatar

Very well said, Ben! When I started my academic research journey five years ago, I constantly had the same feeling as well, being forced to find and stick to my "niche". I always felt something was off, and there is just something that does not resonate with me. I am so glad I was able to overcome this in the past few months, and I have finally reached my identity! Your post resonates with me so much as I went through a similar self-finding journey as well!

I am looking forward to more writings on your thoughts, and hopefully not long before I will have written pieces of mine to share ;)

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Kris Marsh's avatar

I needed to hear this. I took a coaching course last year and learned a ton, but I didn’t take it as far as I’d hoped. In hindsight, I was worrying too much about my niche and focus. Others in my cohort had spent more time finding their voice and figuring out what they want to say.

Thanks for the validation that I wasn’t “wrong” or “bad” but just going too narrow when what I really needed was to open up to find my voice.

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

it really is a process of exploration. Some find it immediately others take months or even years to get there

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Klara Sovryn's avatar

Years long process for me and I'm still giving myself space to explore and continue evolving...

After all, it's an expression and that follows who you are which evolves so whatever you lock as 'it' today may feel off 3 years later.

It's freeing to let the work shape and mutate, following you.

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

Totally. You have to give yourself the freedom to evolve over time and sticking to a narrow niche does not allow that

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Suzanne Halliwell's avatar

What an insightful post. Thank you. I often feel like I've still not found my voice as an artist - I love creating so many different things, but when I look, really look, I can see the threads which form the subtle ties, and absolutely reflect who I am and what moves me. My voice is still quiet, but I can feel it developing and I understand that many people in this world are actually drawn to the quiet. It can be a superpower, and not just a weakness as I'd previously thought.

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alison's avatar

Thank you for this valuable post which resonates on many levels within myself as I'm finding where I belong writing wise.

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Shelly Roberts's avatar

This is a fantastic post Benjamin, it really made me sit up and think 🤔 thank you ☺️

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

Thank you Shelly. I do feel like this message is Stil lacking in our space

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Shelly Roberts's avatar

Absolutely, maybe together with your community, we can get the message across

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Pamela Wang, PhD's avatar

This resonated so much, here are my favourite bits. I also added my own spin to it.

You have to become someone before you’re worth following.

People think being a creator is about finding viral ideas. It's really about developing a perspective that people trust. People don't follow a niche, they follow a person.

Step 1: Define Your Values. You can't have a perspective without values. Ask yourself: "What do I believe so deeply I'd defend it?" This is your foundation.

Step 2: Write From Your Identity. Before you post, ask "What do I actually think about this?" not "What will perform well?"

Step 3: Write For a Specific Reader. This is not your target audience persona, but instead, someone you know. Your imagination cannot capture all the nuances of a real person. Ask them to beta-read, and your work will take off.

Build yourself first, and the following will come as a natural result. This doesn't mean to neglect marketing or writing for others, but those are additional scaffolding latched onto a sturdy foundation.

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

Thanks so much. Love those additions you brought

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Sam Boulley's avatar

This is such a great post that helped clarify a lot of things I've been ruminating on. Thanks for posting 👍

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

Oh that is great. Thanks for letting me know😀

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Jeff Jackson's avatar

As someone who's going through the same exact thing, it's not only nice that someone else is sharing the struggle but that this discourse is so unapologetically accurate, it makes it hard to ignore and easy to embrace. Thank you.

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

Thanks Jeff. Embracing the long term journey here 😀

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Ian Gouge's avatar

This really resonates with me, Benjamin. I think we spend too little time understanding ourselves as writers and assume our writing will be magically 'right'. I advocate writers ask themselves three questions - 'why do I write?' 'who am I writing for?' 'what kind of writer am I?' (process question) - and then tackle 'what do I write?', because the 'what' may not fit the 'why'/'who'/'kind'. Your post explodes on the 'what'? question. Excellent.

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

Great questions. and yes I agree ….the what you come later

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Graeme McAllister's avatar

Remember kids "writing workshops" are the work of the devil.. They always end up with the tutor trying to shape clones of themselves..

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Wai Wong's avatar

I find a similar pattern in academic work as well! Most professors only shape clones of themselves when guiding students in research.

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Graeme McAllister's avatar

It's a delicate art to guide students without pushing your worldview onto them, but I find precious few even try to strike that balance.

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Notes From The In Between's avatar

This is so relevant to me at the moment as I’m focusing so much on my YouTube channel posting one video a week and the last few have felt so much more in line with this. Thank you!

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

oh that is cool..another YouTuber/substack here :)

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Notes From The In Between's avatar

Figuring it out as I go on both!

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Klara Sovryn's avatar

I like what I'm reading, Ben. You and I came to this from a different "before" and I appreciate learning how you've come to it from that kind of "before".

Looking forward to read all the comments now of people who resonated..

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Alyssa Goldberg's avatar

I really appreciate this. In the world of social media where we are asked to establish a brand for an algorithm, we lose touch with the fullness of our creative nature. Your words reminded me of the beautiful journey that is an ever-changing identity to mirror our own evolution.

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

Yes. perfectly put :)

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giftypost's avatar

I did like your post very nice

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Benjamin Antoine's avatar

I’m very glad to hear that. Thank you for letting me know

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giftypost's avatar

I liked your post thanks

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