Olivia O’Ryan—Author
@oliviaoryanwrites.bsky.social
Writer/author—interested in authorship, author business, productivity, procrastination, building community and audience. #WriterThreads #BookThreads
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Ok introductions. Hi, I’m Olivia, and I used to work in corporate as a process documenter/engineer in relation to productivity.
I wanted to branch out into writing because as I quickly discovered in my career, the act/art of writing itself is a peculiar process and not one that can be “machined”.
I wanted to branch out into writing because as I quickly discovered in my career, the act/art of writing itself is a peculiar process and not one that can be “machined”.
The art of saying less: knowing when the sentence is complete. Not every thought needs elaboration. Some truths are sharp and small.
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 AM
The art of saying less: knowing when the sentence is complete. Not every thought needs elaboration. Some truths are sharp and small.
What are you avoiding by not writing? Sometimes the resistance tells us exactly what we need to explore.
November 25, 2025 at 4:12 AM
What are you avoiding by not writing? Sometimes the resistance tells us exactly what we need to explore.
"I don't have time" often means "I don't have permission." Give yourself permission. You don't need anyone else's approval to write.
November 25, 2025 at 3:15 AM
"I don't have time" often means "I don't have permission." Give yourself permission. You don't need anyone else's approval to write.
Stop waiting for permission. Give it to yourself. You're the only authority you need. Your voice matters because it's yours.
November 25, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Stop waiting for permission. Give it to yourself. You're the only authority you need. Your voice matters because it's yours.
Productivity isn't measured in hours—it's measured in progress. Did you move forward? That's enough. That's always enough.
November 25, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Productivity isn't measured in hours—it's measured in progress. Did you move forward? That's enough. That's always enough.
The obstacle: Burnout. The solution: Rest is part of the work. Honor it. You can't create from empty. Refill the well.
November 24, 2025 at 2:52 AM
The obstacle: Burnout. The solution: Rest is part of the work. Honor it. You can't create from empty. Refill the well.
What's the one project you've been putting off? Why? What would happen if you started it today, imperfectly, for 20 minutes?
November 23, 2025 at 11:07 PM
What's the one project you've been putting off? Why? What would happen if you started it today, imperfectly, for 20 minutes?
What could you accomplish if you stopped waiting for conditions to be perfect? Perfect never comes. Good enough is waiting right now.
November 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
What could you accomplish if you stopped waiting for conditions to be perfect? Perfect never comes. Good enough is waiting right now.
What would change if you wrote for 20 minutes every morning this week? Not perfectly. Not brilliantly. Just showed up and wrote.
November 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
What would change if you wrote for 20 minutes every morning this week? Not perfectly. Not brilliantly. Just showed up and wrote.
Rest isn't laziness—it's research for your next miracle. The best ideas come when you stop forcing them.
November 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Rest isn't laziness—it's research for your next miracle. The best ideas come when you stop forcing them.
What story have you been telling yourself about why you can't write? Is it true, or is it just comfortable?
November 23, 2025 at 2:25 AM
What story have you been telling yourself about why you can't write? Is it true, or is it just comfortable?
What story are you afraid to tell? The one that makes your hands shake when you think about writing it? That's exactly the one that matters.
November 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
What story are you afraid to tell? The one that makes your hands shake when you think about writing it? That's exactly the one that matters.
What would you write if you knew no one would ever read it? That's the story that needs telling. That's where your truth lives.
November 22, 2025 at 9:11 PM
What would you write if you knew no one would ever read it? That's the story that needs telling. That's where your truth lives.
Waiting for the perfect moment? This is it. Right now. Messy and imperfect and gloriously ordinary. This moment is the only one you have.
November 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Waiting for the perfect moment? This is it. Right now. Messy and imperfect and gloriously ordinary. This moment is the only one you have.
Clarity is rebellion in a loud world. When everyone is shouting, the quiet voice that knows itself becomes revolutionary.
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Clarity is rebellion in a loud world. When everyone is shouting, the quiet voice that knows itself becomes revolutionary.
Stop romanticizing the process. Sit down. Write. Repeat. The work isn't glamorous. It's daily. It's ordinary. It's essential.
November 22, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Stop romanticizing the process. Sit down. Write. Repeat. The work isn't glamorous. It's daily. It's ordinary. It's essential.
Time management truth: The things that matter rarely feel urgent. Prioritize them anyway. Your writing won't demand attention—you have to give it.
November 22, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Time management truth: The things that matter rarely feel urgent. Prioritize them anyway. Your writing won't demand attention—you have to give it.
What's one thing you could stop doing to make space for 20 minutes of writing? What are you saying yes to that's really a no to your creative life?
November 22, 2025 at 2:55 AM
What's one thing you could stop doing to make space for 20 minutes of writing? What are you saying yes to that's really a no to your creative life?
The hardest part of writing isn't the writing—it's sitting down. Once you're in the chair, momentum takes over. But you have to sit down first.
November 22, 2025 at 1:22 AM
The hardest part of writing isn't the writing—it's sitting down. Once you're in the chair, momentum takes over. But you have to sit down first.
The obstacle: "I'm not a real writer." The solution: Real writers write. So write. You don't need credentials. You need commitment.
November 21, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The obstacle: "I'm not a real writer." The solution: Real writers write. So write. You don't need credentials. You need commitment.
You don't need a writing degree. You need discipline and 20 minutes. Education helps. But commitment matters more.
November 21, 2025 at 5:31 AM
You don't need a writing degree. You need discipline and 20 minutes. Education helps. But commitment matters more.
What would you create if failure wasn't an option? If you knew it would turn out exactly as you hoped? Now create it anyway.
November 21, 2025 at 4:19 AM
What would you create if failure wasn't an option? If you knew it would turn out exactly as you hoped? Now create it anyway.
What if the goal wasn't to write well, but just to write? What if you removed all judgment and just let words flow?
November 21, 2025 at 3:31 AM
What if the goal wasn't to write well, but just to write? What if you removed all judgment and just let words flow?
The obstacle: "I don't feel creative today." The solution: Creativity is a practice, not a feeling. Show up anyway.
November 21, 2025 at 2:50 AM
The obstacle: "I don't feel creative today." The solution: Creativity is a practice, not a feeling. Show up anyway.
Productivity hack: Do the thing you're avoiding first. Eat the frog. Write the hard sentence. Get it done.
November 21, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Productivity hack: Do the thing you're avoiding first. Eat the frog. Write the hard sentence. Get it done.