As a Writer — How Will Others Find Our Voice in the Crowdest Room

WRITER’S JOURNEY

You don’t need to be the loudest in the room, just the one who touches the heart.

Every creator seeks that golden moment of viral success, but for most of us, the reality is a relentless hustle — a constant battle to distinguish ourselves amid the digital noise.

In the first week of May, a subtle shift began to unfold. My articles started to gain traction, a sign that I was finally breaking through the formidable barrier of obscurity. It wasn’t dramatic, yet it was significant enough to fuel my confidence.

“Is this it? Am I finally getting somewhere?” I pondered, my heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and skepticism.

The internet is a crowded marketplace, filled with voices clamoring to be heard. When I first began, my words seemed to dissolve into the abyss of content that fills the web.

It was disheartening.

My writing journey was driven by a desire to share my insights as a tech entrepreneur and to make sense of the rapidly evolving world of IoT. However, understanding the craft of captivating an audience required more than just knowledge; it required heart.

“Perhaps it’s not just about informing but connecting,” I realized one evening as I watched the digital stats slowly tick upward.

Storytelling, an art as ancient as time, became my focus. It wasn’t just about delivering facts but weaving them into the human experience.

Let me share a secret with you: even in technology, where logic reigns supreme, the human element — the story — is what truly engages.

Why do simple videos of daily activities capture immense attention?

Because they narrate a journey, a transformation from chaos to order, from nothing to something. “Could the mundane details of tech innovation be woven into narratives that resonate on a personal level?” I wondered, my mind racing with possibilities.

I was never a natural storyteller.

My inclination has always been towards data, towards the tangible and quantifiable.

But the digital landscape taught me that the personal touch, the slight vulnerability in sharing successes and stumbles, draws people in.

“Mazlan, it’s okay to show the struggles behind the success,” I had to repeatedly remind myself, the internal dialogue pushing me to be more open and genuine.

Here are some strategies that helped me carve out my space in the crowded world of online writing:

1. Know Your Audience and Yourself: Before you type that first word, think deeply about who you are writing for and what unique perspective you bring. You can’t be everything to everyone, and that’s okay.
2. Share Relatable Experiences: Even if you think your life or work might not be exhilarating, there’s power in the relatable simplicity of everyday experiences.
3. Engage from the Get-Go: Your opening lines are crucial. Start with something that hooks your reader — humor, a question, or an intriguing statement.
4. Create Characters: Even in non-fiction, the people in your stories are your characters. Let your readers see the world through their eyes.
5. Build Tension with Conflicts: Introduce challenges or conflicts in your narratives. These don’t have to be dramatic; even small hurdles can engage your audience as they await resolutions.
6. Immerse Your Readers: Use descriptive language to make your readers feel present in the story. Let them hear, see, and feel the environment you’re describing.
7. Emotion Over Information: While facts are important, the emotional journey keeps readers coming back. Share your triumphs and failures to create a deeper connection.
8. Be Consistently Present: Growth takes time. Post regularly and maintain a presence that your readers can rely on.
9. Listen and Respond: Writing online is not a monologue but a dialogue. Engage with your audience, listen to their feedback, and tell them they are heard.
10. Learn from Every Setback: Not every piece will be a hit. Learn from what doesn’t work and refine your approach.

In writing, just as in technology, adaptation and learning are keys to success.

Every story and article written is a step towards understanding what resonates.

As I celebrate small victories and prepare for the many challenges ahead, I am reminded why I started.

It’s about building something bigger than myself — a bridge between technology and daily life crafted not just with data but with the very essence of our shared human experiences.

So, here’s to the stories yet to be told and to find our voices in the crowdest room.

Remember, you don’t need to be the loudest in the room, just the one who touches the heart.