[Harumanbo Harucheonja] "Just like breathing, just like eating"… Brunch writer talks about writing habits

Essay Writer and Writing Instructor Lee Dong-Young
Practice Writing Daily at Set Times and Lengths
Expressing Personal Thoughts Also Heals the Inner Self

"I never majored in writing, nor did I formally learn how to write, and I have never been published in a literary magazine. However, I have liked writing since I was a student, and even while working at a company, I continued participating in reading and transcription groups. As I consistently posted my writings online, the path to becoming a writer gradually opened up for me."

Lee Dong-young (37, photo) is a well-known essayist and a writing instructor with 10 years of experience, recognized through Kakao's content platform 'Brunch Story.' He has over 12,000 subscribers on Brunch. After graduating from university, he worked at a PR agency handling new media content planning and promotion for large corporations and government-affiliated organizations. While writing occasionally and giving in-house lectures, he eventually became a full-time writer and writing instructor. He teaches writing to all age groups?from children to adults?at various companies, public institutions, and schools ranging from elementary to university levels, including the 'Resignation School' for office workers. He has published four essay collections, including , which contains his writing know-how, and another book is scheduled for release next month.

On the 3rd, writer Lee Dong-young is talking about how to write and communicate with readers at a cafe in Jongam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yoon Dong-joo]

For Lee, 'transcription' was initially a purely personal hobby. He created a transcription group with acquaintances he met through a reading club to share good writing by reading books and exchanging impressions. Unexpectedly, many people showed interest and participated, and word of mouth spread, leading to requests to organize new groups in various places. Last year, Hancom asked for his advice while developing a new version of Hancom Typing Practice. The upgraded 'Hancom Typing Practice 2023' program includes not only the traditional typing practice game where users type given words or sentences quickly and accurately but also a transcription mode where users input their favorite writings or novels.

"Transcription can be described as a 'slow reading act.' Although it involves copying someone else's writing, it requires intense concentration. When readers carefully write down each sentence with thoughtful reflection, their thinking broadens, and over time, their writing skills improve. Of course, forcing yourself to transcribe just because others say it's good or doing it blindly is not very helpful."

Lee confessed that he was not a good writer from the start. "About ten years ago, I used to write on a bulletin board run by a publishing company, and someone commented, 'Lee Dong-young's writing is pretty and nice, but it's too difficult to understand.' At that moment, I realized I was writing only for myself and that I needed to write more accessible texts." Since then, instead of writing excitedly in his own world, he made efforts to write from the reader's perspective, aiming for readability. Through blogs, social media, and YouTube, he received fan messages praising his sentences as "so beautiful" and heartfelt stories like "Your writing comforted me and stopped me from making a bad choice." These encouraged him to keep writing and not take writing lightly.

As writing is often called a 'tool for self-expression,' Lee emphasized that writing is a means to continuously discover 'Who am I?' through dialogue with oneself. The assignments he gives to new students mainly focus on self-reflective writing, such as 'Words I want to hear' or 'Things that make me feel alive.' "Writing starts from the desire to express oneself. Some people express themselves through speaking, music, or painting, but writing can be done alone without formal training, can start immediately, and costs nothing. Nowadays, with just a smartphone, anyone can write and share their work with the public anytime, anywhere."

When asked how people who want to write but find it difficult to pick up a pen should start, he advised, "Set a goal to complete a certain amount of writing at a fixed time and place every day and try to write." By habituating writing into a daily routine for 20 to 30 minutes, "there will come a moment when writing becomes as natural as breathing or eating."

Writer Dongyoung Lee recommended writing every day as the first method to learn writing. He advised not just to have the intention but to routinize the time, place, and amount, and put it into practice.
[Photo by Dongju Yoon]

Artist Dongyoung Lee is giving a lecture on the topic of "Blog Promotion Writing" at the "Korea International Trade Association Ambassador Launch Ceremony" held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the 5th.
[Photo by Dongyoung Lee]

Improving writing skills also has the added benefit of improving speaking skills. "Writing requires organizing your thoughts and sometimes quoting others' writing. This helps your speech become more coherent, polished, and clear in message." Going further, focusing solely on oneself to record daily life, calm the mind, and write reflections can lead to inner healing. The act of writing releases accumulated emotions and brings a sense of liberation.

"Put aside the pretentious prejudice about well-written texts. More important than writing well is the attitude of trying to write good writing. Put your thoughts and stories into words and start confidently!"