How learning different skills can make you a better writer
Learning beyond the page is the secret
“A writer is someone on whom nothing is lost.”
— Henry James
You want to be a better writer?
Start learning skills that have nothing to do with writing.
That might sound counterintuitive, but stick with me, because this might be the unlock you’ve been looking for.
Writing inside the cylinder your mind
Most people think becoming a great writer is all about… well, writing more.
Of course, writing every day helps, but writing in a vacuum creates stale content, because you
regurgitate the same ideas
use the same metaphors
recycle the same stories
Eventually, your words lose their edge.
Not because you stopped writing…but because you stopped learning.
Writing is an output
It’s more than a skill because writing reflects your input. Those that come from life. From experience. From curiosity.
When you only focus on the craft, you miss the world around you. And writing that misses the world is writing that misses the reader. So here’s the better approach, become a multidimensional learner.
The more you experience, the more unique angles you can offer.
The more skills you learn, the richer your metaphors become.
The more perspectives you absorb, the more powerful your message lands.
Let’s explore this together.
1️⃣ Learn visual arts 🎨 to sharpen description
Ever noticed how artists see the world differently? They notice light, colour, shape, shadow.
Writers who sketch, paint, or take photos begin to see with a different lens. They describe emotions not as “happy” or “sad” but as:
“She smiled like the sun breaking through storm clouds.”
“His eyes darted like sparrows trapped in a glass room.”
Art enhances your ability to paint pictures with words.
And good writing? It’s not just about facts. It’s about feeling.
2️⃣ Learn music 🎵 to strengthen rhythm and flow
Music teaches tempo, variation, and pauses—three elements essential to compelling prose.
You get
sentences that move like a beat
pacing that builds tension and releases it
paragraphs that breathe
Musical writers feel their writing.
They know when to hit hard, when to pause, when to let a sentence sing.
And they understand silence.
Just like in music…the best moments in writing often come in the space between the notes.
3️⃣Study psychology 💬 to deepen reader connection
If writing is persuasion, then psychology is the cheat code.
Learning basic principles of how people think, decide, and feel helps you
craft irresistible hooks
tap into hidden desires
anticipate objections
It’s how you move from “just writing” to writing that influences.
You’ll begin to ask better questions:
What is the reader afraid of?
What do they crave?
What story are they telling themselves?
This isn’t manipulation.
It’s empathy.
And empathy makes your writing unforgettable.
4️⃣ Practice mindfulness 🧘 to write with clarity
A cluttered mind leads to cluttered writing.
Practicing mindfulness, through meditation, breathwork, or simply being present, helps you notice your thoughts.
You begin to spot patterns. Detach from mental noise. And when you sit down to write, you cut to the essence. Writing becomes less about proving, and more about expressing.
You start writing with clarity, because you’re thinking with clarity.
5️⃣ Learn philosophy 🧠 to add depth
The best writing isn’t loud, but wise. Philosophy sharpens your worldview. It teaches you to ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and explore paradoxes. When you incorporate philosophy into your writing, your voice deepens.
Not because you sound “smart”… but because you sound thoughtful.
You stop chasing trends and start saying things that matter.
6️⃣ Learn science 🧪 to fuel curiosity
Science encourages you to stay curious, explore the unknown, and ask “why?”
It helps you write with precision, to back your words with truth, and to explore phenomena with awe.
A writer who learns science can explain complex ideas in simple terms, an underrated superpower in the age of information overload.
And curiosity?
That’s the fuel for writing that feels alive.
7️⃣ Pick up a physical skill to ground your voice
From cooking to carpentry, gardening to jiu-jitsu, physical skills reconnect you with the real world.
They humble you
They slow you down
They teach patience, process, and discipline
Most importantly: they give you stories.
Metaphors that land
Struggles that resonate
Lessons you can only learn by doing
These skills don’t just enhance your writing.
They enhance you.
What’s the point?
Every skill you learn outside writing gives you new tools within writing.
Think of yourself as a creative collector. Every lesson, every failure, every new experience, it's material.
Great writers don’t just write.
You live, explore, tinker, absorb, then you share what you’ve discovered.
Want to enhance your writing without writing?
Try one of the tips above, not only will you grow as a person…you’ll grow as a writer. Because your words reflect your world.
Make that world rich, and your writing will follow.
Writing is a mirror, the more you see, the more you can say.
So learn widely, live deeply, write honestly.
Let your curiosity lead you.
Because the writer who never stops learning…
Never runs out of things to say.
Dare to fail so you can dare to win - Moon Arica
Expand your comfort zone here, tell me your thoughts:
Which tip interests you the most?
Do you agree this enhances neuroplasticity as well?
More on writing:
Thanks for reading!
I had a long deep meaningful response about how this is my approach to life and the damn substack app ate it with an accidental refresh. I'm so enraged.
Yes times a 1000 and screw you substack app for losing that missive.
We should never feel like we’re wasting time learning new skills because they are applicable in so many ways! Great read