Six months ago, I set out on a mission.

‍

After reading Nicolas Cole’s book The Art and Business of Online Writing: How to Beat the Game of Capturing and Keeping Attention, I decided that I too could beat this so-called writing game. 

‍

So, on January 1, 2023, I wrote my first entry, in which I declared, “I’m starting off the new year with a simple goal: write consecutively for 180 days.”

‍

I assumed that if I consistently wrote every day, I could attract thousands of interested readers. But that couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

‍

I have now written for six months straight (technically 181 days), and I can count on one (maybe two) hands the people who want to read my writing. From this perspective, this mission may seem as if it has been an abject failure. However, I feel that my mission has been nothing of the sort.

‍

Over the past six months, I have learned some incredibly valuable lessons about writing and life in general:

‍

1. When you open up to the world, the world opens up to you. I often struggle to speak openly about my emotions, thoughts, and feelings, but when given the chance to write them down, I feel much more comfortable. As soon as I started sharing my thoughts publicly, it spurred conversations with family and friends in ways that would not have happened otherwise. For me, this has been the most rewarding part of this journey because it has allowed me to connect with people in new ways.

‍

2. If you want people to read what you write, you have to promote yourself constantly. I hoped that maybe, just maybe, people would share or repost some of my writing on social media if it resonated with them. But this did not happen (except for on one occasion). It is up to me as the creator of my creations to push them out into the world; the responsibility lies with no one else. Sharing my writing made me deeply uncomfortable, so I usually didn't. The few times I did, it got some traction, which basically means this—you have to get to a point in which you’re as comfortable promoting the thing as you are creating the thing.

‍

3. There is no right or wrong way to write. At the start of this six month journey, I was very concerned about writing well. In my mind, there was a “good” way and a “bad” way to write, and I wasn’t sure which of the two I was doing. In reality, I was just doing my best. But as I read the works of different writers, I allowed myself to pull bits of inspiration from them, which inevitably impacted my writing style. Furthermore, I learned just how drastically “good” writing can vary. There is a world of difference between the poetic, emotional writing of Elena Ferrante and the blunt, direct writing of Ernest Hemingway. Yet during this period, both of these writers influenced my writing in ways that I would not have expected. Essentially, find your voice as a writer—whatever that may be—because everything else will follow if you stay authentic to yourself.

‍

4. No breaks = no chance of failures. There were so many days when I did not feel like writing. Either my schedule did not allow for the proper time to write something meaningful or I just didn’t have it in me. But I wrote anyway because I was worried that if I stopped—even for one day—the whole thing would unravel. One day would turn into two days, two days into three, and before I know it my mission would have failed. If you want to achieve something, commit to it fully, and do not let anything—and I mean anything—get in the way of accomplishing it. Use the anxiety of failure to your advantage.

‍

5. You won’t see progress in the way you think you will. At the end of this six month process, I expected to go back to my first few entries, read them nostalgically, and think to myself, “Wow, these were shit. I’m so much better now.” But that is not the case. In many ways, my writing now is similar to what it was six months ago. Progress is not linear. I know that I am a better writer today than I was six months ago because I approach it differently. For example, six months ago, I never considered the concept of “show don’t tell” in writing. Now, I think about it constantly. Even though the outcome may not be dramatically different, I have more tools in my toolkit to produce something of a higher quality.

‍

6. Good stories exist both out in the world and in your head, and you need one just as much as the other. There’s nothing more interesting than a true story. Luckily for us, there are true stories all around us. It’s our job—as creative people—to capture those true stories and turn them into art, regardless of whether you’re painting or writing or making music. This is why you have to Live with a capital L. The human imagination is wonderful, but you need to let the world shape you. The more experiences I collect, the better my writing becomes.

‍

Lastly, I am really proud of myself for completing this challenge. When we set big goals for ourselves, it’s all too easy to “let life get in the way.” But when we do see something through to the finish, we should take a moment to appreciate it.

‍

Now that I've accomplished this goal, it's time to take things to the next level. 

‍

I won't be maintaining the daily writing routine, but I have some other exciting projects in mind that I believe will enrich my writing skills further. The foundation has been laid—I’ve established the habit. Now, it’s time to create something meaningful.

‍

And for those who have come along with me on this journey, I cannot thank you enough. I hope you’ll stick with me for everything that’s to come. 

‍

This is only just the beginning.