What Withnail & I Taught Me About Becoming a Better Writer
How Studying Your Favourite Writers Can Transform Your Own Voice
The Film That Stuck With Me for Decades
I first watched Withnail & I in my early teens, not long after its 1987 release.
I loved it instantly. Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann were unforgettable, Richard Griffiths was sublime, and Ralph Brown et al completed the perfect comic cast.
It became one of those cult films everyone quoted at university. Dark, hilarious, and quietly tragic. A masterpiece of character-driven writing.
Camberwell Carrot anyone?
Years later, I found a copy of the screenplay online and studied it alongside The Killing Fields — another Bruce Robinson script.
By pure chance, my friend’s dad worked in the film industry and owned an annotated copy of the The Killing Fields, which he kindly let me borrow.
I treasured it and pored over it for months, alongside my printed out copy of Withnail and I.
I ended up taking both scripts with me to my University of Birmingham English interview a few years later.
My future tutor and I spent the whole time chatting about what a great writer Bruce Robinson was — and I was offered a place.
Those scripts inspired me, and helped set me on the path to becoming a writer.
Great Writing Leaves Fingerprints
When we study the work of writers we admire — not just big names but emerging voices on Substack, Medium, or LinkedIn — we notice their rhythm, structure, and unique voice.
We see how they connect emotionally, feel why their words land, and learn what makes their audience stay.
And the beauty of today’s creator economy? You can tell them. You can leave a comment, start a conversation, or even collaborate.
This isn’t about copying. It’s about building your own voice by learning from the writers who inspire you, then remixing it into something only you could write.
How to Put This Into Practice
1️⃣ Pick one writer each week whose work you love
2️⃣ Study one of their best articles — look at structure, headlines, and tone
3️⃣ Write your own short piece inspired by what you’ve learned
4️⃣ Leave a thoughtful comment on their work — and start a real connection
Small, intentional steps compound into huge growth.
Your Next Step
If you want to build a writing habit that finally sticks — one that leads to a profitable online business — join Content Champion.
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