Published on <a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/on-writing-as-a-designer-fa485b103eea?source=rss----eb297ea1161a---4">| Prototyping: From UX to Front End &mdash; Medium</a> Gregory Wolanski 
<h4>What to expect after writing on Medium for 12 months as a designer. See my numbers &amp; what writing can look like after a year.</h4>
I would start by writing about people, but I know you’re here for numbers.
Numbers
29,358 views, 11,394 reads, a 39% read ratio, 582 “fans” (it’s <a href="https://help.medium.com/hc/en-us/articles/115011350967-Claps">a Medium thing</a>), and 525 followers.
<img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*cy4X4w3_3qb4eAI96jBP8g.png">
People
Writing has a real impact on your ability to communicate clearly. After 12 months, I still can’t communicate everything I’d like to clearly, but I can assess a lot more accurately whether I’m able to convey something clearly or not.
Thanks to writing, I’ve met wonderful people (hey there! :).
Working with my phenomenal editor constantly reminds me how important relationships and trust are at work.
How to start writing?
I don’t know. It took me over 12 years to start. One day, I just got really angry about not writing and… started writing. I’ve made it to my 13th month. That’s all I know.
Useful constraints
A white sheet of paper scares not only writers but also designers.
I decided to deal with it as a designer would — by making up constraints:
<ul>
<li>I write in English (even though I’m not a native speaker and English is not my primary language)</li>
<li>Around two A4 pages (3,600 chars) per article (thanks, <a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/02/07/david-ogilvy-on-writing/">Mr. Ogilvy</a>!; it makes everything easier)</li>
<li>Once a month (as someone who has never written and wants to publish articles in a foreign language, I’m able to publish smoothly a maximum of one text a month; after 12 months, I know that as a non–native speaker, I can only send out a newsletter with links once a week)</li>
</ul>
The writing trap
There is a trap in this whole writing thing. I’m a designer. Writing isn’t and won’t ever be my main occupation. Writing will never be the main “thing I do.” However, it gives off the incorrect impression that it could be.
Before I wrote three articles about pro bono work, I did a lot of design work on this topic. Then, as a form of rest, I decided to write 12 articles. At times, I felt like I was writing too much and doing too little. That’s why, in December, I published the <a href="https://medium.freecodecamp.org/open-source-design-500-d6c29a689812">Open Source Design 500</a> list, and in January, I published the <a href="https://github.com/gregorywolanski/open-source-design-500">code that I wrote to create this list</a>. Now I’m working as a designer on my next open source project. I hope it will allow me to maintain a healthy balance between designing and writing.
Questions I started asking myself
<ul>
<li>Where do I want to publish this article?</li>
<li>Why do I want to publish this article?</li>
<li>Will this article harm me in the future?</li>
<li>Do I want to try to write something time–specific or timeless?</li>
<li>Where is the border between my know–how and the know–how of my clients?</li>
</ul>
Tips &amp; tricks
<ul>
<li>It doesn’t matter what text editor you use, but if it’s hard for you to concentrate while writing, try <a href="https://ommwriter.com/">OmmWriter</a> — it helps me.</li>
<li>Remember that you don’t find time for important things in life, you make it.</li>
<li>The Pomodoro technique helps to get things done.</li>
</ul>
What’s next
<ul>
<li>Copying the articles from Medium to <a href="https://www.gregorywolanski.com/">gregorywolanski.com</a> and creating a <a href="https://tinyletter.com/gregorywolanski/">newsletter</a> for people who want to read me every month.</li>
<li>An attempt to publish articles outside of Medium (on other websites and on paper).</li>
<li>Next meta article about writing in 9 years.</li>
</ul>
Writing is thinking. Communicative, clear thinking — at least ultimately. Thinking in a way that makes something pleasantly tangible. Thinking that can be stopped and put back and to which you can return — rested or tired, sleepy or not, unusually inspired or extremely down to earth. “I have a better word for that.” “This sentence is too long.” “There’s a missing link between these two paragraphs.” This is building something.
I think I started writing and publishing when I realized that I could no longer buy being better at what I was doing. A new computer, tablet, or piece of software will not make me a better designer, a better man. Writing can, though; it has that power. I feel that. I believe that.
The articles I published in 2017
<ul>
<li><a href="https://medium.com/@gregorywolanski/design-mastermind-group-peer-mentoring-interaction-ux-ui-170d9511ead4">Design mentoring</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medium.com/@gregorywolanski/sketch-i-use-it-every-week-but-cant-pass-indifferently-by-affinity-designer-4b0a536ac887">Sketch? I use it every week, but can’t pass indifferently by Affinity Designer</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/design-podcasts-where-to-start-4e9d81f5f2c2">Design podcasts: Where to start?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/dear-designer-everything-is-a-remix-7d79e743d39d">Dear designer, everything is a remix</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/transparent-designers-a5ea3fa1c669">Transparent designers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medium.com/@gregorywolanski/when-how-i-use-balsamiq-7431875d9452">When &amp; how I use Balsamiq</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/empathy-in-design-practically-6390f00e2d0c">Empathy in design, practically</a></li>
<li><a href="https://uxplanet.org/dont-risk-making-a-crappy-ui-use-material-design-520ebaceffe4">Don’t risk making a crappy UI, use Material Design</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/the-second-designer-31ebcb057bad">The second designer</a></li>
<li><a href="https://uxplanet.org/why-you-should-talk-to-a-designer-earlier-than-you-think-9a258c32612d">Why you should talk to a designer earlier than you think</a></li>
<li><a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/backup-for-every-ux-ui-product-designer-199116a13962">Backup for every designer</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medium.com/@gregorywolanski/using-balsamiq-for-better-design-communication-ac649789c09b">Using Balsamiq for Better Design Communication</a></li>
<li><a href="https://uxdesign.cc/small-talk-ux-designers-7385eac4d543">Small talk + UX Designers = ?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medium.freecodecamp.org/open-source-design-500-d6c29a689812">Open Source Design 500</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medium.com/@gregorywolanski/what-has-changed-in-material-design-in-2017-c726b81363e">What has changed in Material Design in 2017</a></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blog.prototypr.io/on-writing-as-a-designer-fa485b103eea">On writing as a designer</a> was originally published in <a href="https://blog.prototypr.io">Prototypr</a> on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

On writing as a designer

What to expect after writing on Medium for 12 months as a designer. See my numbers & what writing can look like after a year.

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