When I was first introduced to Hive, my mentor told me that I would need to write 500 words and above. Immediately, I asked myself, “How?” because even though I do write, it was when my mentor saw my writing that she Introduced me to hive, but it was never up to 500 words. It felt like a big task.
[source](https://pixabay.com/photos/notebook-notes-pen-writing-diary-1840276/)
But then, my mentor sent me some links to people’s introduction posts to read so I could get an idea. I opened them and started reading, and before I knew it, ideas began to come to me. I gave it a try and wrote my own introduction post. To my greatest surprise, when I checked my word count, it was 800 words. That day I was so happy, almost like I had won a lottery ticket. I kept reading what I wrote over and over again, asking myself, “Did I really write this?” I couldn’t believe it.
Since that day, writing has not been as hard for me as I first thought. Anytime I see a prompt, if I don’t immediately know what to write, I go on Hive and read other people’s posts. Reading always gives me new ideas. Sometimes, I even remember a story from my own life that connects with the prompt, and that makes it easier to start writing. Before I know it, I may have written between 350 and 500 words.
There are also times when ideas don’t come quickly. When that happens, I don’t force myself. I simply leave it for a while. I might walk around or go and do something else. Funny enough, when I do that, more ideas usually come to my mind. Then, when I return to my writing, I continue with a fresh mind. This habit of pausing and coming back has really helped me.
[source](https://pixabay.com/photos/hand-write-pen-notebook-journal-1868015/)
At other times, I don’t even need to think too much. The moment I see a prompt, I immediately know what I want to write. For example, with this very prompt, once I saw it, I smiled because the ideas started coming right away. It felt so natural to me.
Another thing that has helped me is checking the meaning of words I don’t understand. Sometimes, the English used in a prompt is not clear to me, so I quickly search online for the meaning. Once I understand it, everything becomes easier. That way, I don’t get stuck, and I can explain my thoughts better. Doing this has also helped me to improve my vocabulary and learn new ways to express myself.
When I look back, I can see how much my writing has improved. At first, I was scared of 500 words, but now, I don’t even think about the number anymore. Most times, I write more than that without planning to. The more I write, the more confident I become. I no longer doubt myself the way I did in the beginning.
Would I recommend my method to others? Yes, I would. It is very simple.
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