6 Bite-Sized Lessons From 365 Days of Writing Online
I have been writing online seriously for the last 365 days.
Imagine This:
You are busy in your life with some mundane day-to-day things, hardly getting time to do anything else.
After every day’s hustle, there is little time left to do anything else.
After a hard day of work, you want to eat your dinner in peace, chill with a wine glass, and re-watch your favorite movie or a tv show for the 1000th time.
And the cycle continues.
Amidst all of this, something has changed. You are not the same as you were before.
It’s funny how day by day nothing changes. But when you look back, everything is different. — C.S. Lewis
If you’re anything like me, you probably looked at your life full of struggles, fears, and unaccomplished goals, and felt frustrated about your progress and life in general.
In all honesty, writing online, and making $$$ seems exciting, and starting something on your own seems glamorous as people often share online.
But people never tell you how hard it is to show up consistently.
Being your support system and how it can take a toll on you and your overall life.
And I can tell you in my accidental writing journey, it’s all worth it when you start enjoying the process of creating.
And for that reason, I love it despite all madness.
Let me share some lessons I’ve learned so far. Some good and some bad.
#1 The fear of failure and rejection
Even though I am writing for 365 days, I still feel the fear of rejection and with every article I publish.
It’s scary for me to be judged, especially for me who is an overthinker.
And sometimes it’s hard to publish your most vulnerable articles.
I have articles in the backlog that I am still afraid to publish because I am not sure how much sensitivity I can show.
#2 Showing Up is the *only* superpower you need
There is a time when I feel unmotivated and uninspired to write.
Life happens in between.
And sometimes you don’t have the energy to show up.
Despite everything, you still choose to sit, write down your post, and hit publish.
There will be articles, but they won’t do well no matter what you think.
There will be times when you won’t get new deals.
It’s all hard work with little to zero rewards in return.
And you know deep down, if you want to build something awesome, you need to show up every damn day.
#3 Accepting the randomness
To create amazing content, accepting the randomness of a writer’s life is your key.
Accepting everything life has to offer will lead you to become an authentic writer.
Everything I write is inspired by my day-to-day life.
So live the full, and accept its challenges.
All the good or bad things life can offer will make you a better writer.
#4 I feel grateful for this Platform
Recently, I found myself stuck.
You know the feeling.
But what if there is a way to own your discomfort?
To keep collecting lessons, and to move on…
I feel grateful for an online platform where you can publish your work instead of chasing a publication to publish your work.
Being an entrepreneur has never been easy.
You can learn for free from courses, YouTube.
#5 Building my true asset
The true asset is owning your time and how you choose to spend it.
Because it’s yours to live.
As I am getting older, I am learning that time is important and what is most important is how I choose to spend it.
I never thought of this way before.
I spent endless hours binge-watching stupid movies, and TV shows, and watched reruns of my favorite shows multiple times.
Hanging out with friends who never were actually my friends.
But at this point, I am thinking about how I am investing my time instead of spending it.
You need humans to solve problems and earn a living, so you’ve got to be more careful. Self-awareness is the tool you need.
1- Say No to meetings where you don’t add any values
2- Schedule fewer meetings or put things on chat/email instead
3- Say No to mindless watching Netflix and TV
4- No gossip, bitching about other people, friends, co-workers, etc.
#6 Why I choose to write
To do anything extraordinary you need to find the way behind it.
I started writing as a fun hobby, but in the last 365 days, I realized I show up because I want to make an impact, and add value to my reader’s life.
Words have energy and I want to spread positive energy whenever you choose to read my writing.
And to make life a bit happier and healthier.
Because You Matter!
Nothing else matters as much.
And to bring all of us together.
Give it your heart, and hard work, and you know your life and mindset are going to change forever.
All the best!
Be Bold
Be Courageous
Be Your Best