BECOMING A WRITER
I Failed My 30-Day Writing Challenge
Do I start from day 1 again?
On July 11th, I started a 30-day writing challenge: write 500 words daily for 30 days straight. I managed to write every day for 12 days before I missed two days in a row.
So what now?
For the last few hours, I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not to start the challenge again. Writing on the weekends was my struggle the last few weeks. Is it worth trying again to overcome that hump?
Ultimately, yes. I’m starting over. Today is day 1.
A few important learnings
The last twelve days weren’t all lost (thankfully). I’ve learned a lot about writing, publishing content on Medium, setting goals, overcoming writer’s block, and more.
First, it’s okay to start over.
I actually started this challenge on July 8th. I wrote for one day and then a weekend showed up and I had to start again on Monday.
This is a hard pill to swallow — I’m struggling with this a lot today. I really don’t want to restart the count. But at the same time, I think there is value in starting again. I’ve made major progress in the last couple of weeks.
Just imagine what I can do when I finally reach my goal!
It’s also okay not to publish every day.
On my lowest writing days, I barely managed to scrape together 500 words. Ultimately, those articles were not very good — think stream of consciousness writing rather than useful content — and have not been published.
Someday I may revisit those articles, clean them up, and hit publish. But until then, they will sit safely in my drafts where no one can see them.
Write the content you wish existed.
My most successful articles have been centered around the content I wish I had when researching specific topics. I am first and foremost a marketer, second a UX student, and third a new writer.
Right now, I can categorize my content around these three topics. I have dozens of drafts with headlines about the content I wish I had when beginning these journeys.
For example, with writing, all I can find are success stories. These articles are great motivation, but I also want to hear how other writers found their way.
There is value in sharing all parts of the journey, not just the good ones.
Final thoughts
Becoming a writer is not a one-day, instant success moment. For me, it’s about building a habit through practice and consistency.
James Clear writes in Atomic Habits, that the best new habits are centered around your identity (not just the outcome). I decided that I am a writer, so now I am building the habits I need to become a successful one.
And I’m bringing you all along that journey with me.
