I was a horrible writer (before I read Dostoyevsky)

Have you heard of Fyodor Dostoyevsky?

If not, then you absolutely should.

This genius Russian novelist wrote incredible books such as:

• Notes from the Underground

• The Idiot

• Crime and Punishment

If you haven’t read them yet, I highly recommend you do so. Those books are like nothing else I've ever read (and I’ve read 100s of novels 😅).

When I read him, I feel like I’m visiting a Therapist (the Sigmund Freud type). There were times when I had to put away the book because it was getting too intense. I could barely handle what I was reading 😅

Incredible how powerful words can be - he changed how I perceive “good writing” - I talk a lot about writing rules, but they are all worthless if you can’t produce an emotion in the reader - and Dostoyevsky was the master at that.

BUT paradoxically:

His writing is ugly, complicated, and unorganized - so his books can be a tough read.

And at the same time, he's considered one of the greatest writers who ever lived.

How come???

When I read “Crime and Punishment,” I understood why…

I had moments where I was sitting in my bed in disbelief at what I had just read.

Heart racing, sadness, disgust, anger, frustration - the whole deal. And the weirdest thing? Through reading his stories, I began to understand myself more.

It’s like a self-help book without trying to be.

His books are deeply psychoanalytic and speak directly to the inner core of your being, so be ready when you read them because what you will discover about yourself might not be roses and sunshine.

But not only did Dostoyevsky give me free therapy sessions, he also made me aware of what GOOD writing comes down to…

His writing is confusing, with long and complicated sentences. But his writing connects to the core of human beings.

So today I want to share with you Dostoyevsky’s 5 Writing Methods that changed how I approach my writing forever:

1. The Art of Speaking Truth

Dostoyevsky was not afraid to dive into the darkest places of our souls.

He spoke things nobody dared to speak, and that’s what made his writing immortal.

In a world where we learn to hide our true selves, Dostoyevsky's raw and honest writing speaks to the deepest core of our hearts.

Sadly, in the online world, you’ll find that most content is generic, boring, and replaceable. So you stand out by voicing your truth.

You might encounter hate, but you will also gain a true, loyal following and trust within your audience.

2 quotes hold true here:

“If you’re liked by everybody, you’re liked by nobody.”

"He who dares not to offend cannot be honest.”

2. The Characters become You

To read Dostoevsky is to know yourself for the first time.

Dostoyevsky created characters that feel so relatable, they become alive through you.

His characters mirror your own hopes, fears, and dreams.

He breathes life into them, creates genuine souls with wants and desires, past and future, no matter how ordinary they seem.

And that’s what we want to do with our writing - make people relate to what you’re saying. Make them see themselves in your message. Make them feel.

3. Emotional Rollercoaster

Perhaps the greatest feature of his writing is the deep emotions he makes you feel.

People who read him are bowled over by him, knocked out, gut-punched by his ability to write the truth.

He creates intense, almost unbearable emotions within the reader, making it nearly impossible to tear yourself away from his books.

And this goes back to what we said earlier - good writing comes down to creating an emotion within the reader.

4. Obsessive Detail

Dostoyevsky brings his world and characters to life with meticulous attention to detail.

He goes in-depth into every aspect of his characters' existence - from their movements and appearance to every nuance of their emotions.

Through these detailed descriptions, he captures you in his fictional world and makes you understand the underlying ideas he wants to communicate.

So make your writing visual.

Don’t just say: I woke up and went to work.

Say: I woke up at 6:30. Eyes burning from the dried tears. My chest felt heavy, like I hadn’t exhaled in weeks. Another day. Another mask to wear.

5. Unexpected Humor

While his books explore themes of deep suffering, he also uses unexpected humor.

Through the subtle sprinkles of humor, he brings a great contrast to his writing.

The use of humor coupled with the profound tragedy adds depth and complexity to his works, making it irreplaceable.

So use humor to your advantage (I’m still working on that one 😅) - create a contrast between positive and negative emotions. Dostoyevsky would make you smile in one sentence and make you tear up in the next.

This emotional rollercoaster is the reason his books are read to this day.

That’s it.

His writing is truly magical and a reminder that good writing is less about following the rules we learned in school or university.

Good writing comes down to creating an emotion within the reader.

If you can do that, you win.

More attention, more fans, more followers, more sales. It’s that simple.

Let me know what you think!

Talk soon,

Heythem

That’s it! And please, if you have any questions on how to build an audience online, monetization, or our writers community Full Circle ⭕, reply to this e-mail and I get back to you (I read every mail personally)

With love,

Heythem