7 Crucial Lessons I’ve Learned In 2 Years of Writing Online
I hope they help you as much.
I started writing online 2 years ago with the habit of publishing one article every month.
It was not a side hustle or an intention to make money online; I just started it as a fun hobby.
Now, I publish three articles every week on Medium, have a weekly newsletter, and a LinkedIn newsletter.
Overall, I have gained 2500+ subscribers on different platforms I write on and earn 25K+ views every month.
Of course, when I started, I had no idea that writing online could become a full-time gig.
I am incredibly grateful for online platforms that provide ample opportunities to write and connect with readers.
Writing is hard, and it’s even harder to do it alongside an extremely demanding 9–5 job.
But when you have a strong desire to pursue something, you find a way to do it regardless of the difficulty.
That’s why I am embarking on a part-time creator’s journey.
Here are seven lessons I have learned, and if you’re looking to step into this journey, I hope these insights can help you too.
1/ Experiment Your Way Into Things:
When I started, I had no knowledge of a creator’s process or writing routine.
However, writing on different platforms, reading books, watching tutorials, and taking online courses helped me find my path.
The most important lesson I learned was to detach myself from the outcome and focus on the process and enjoying the journey.
Treating everything as an experiment helped me overcome the fear of failure and rejection, enabling me to write bolder and more open essays about various aspects of my life.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
2/ Build an Email List to Connect with Readers:
Starting a newsletter happened naturally for me.
I saw many successful creators recommending it, so I started writing on Substack and created a weekly newsletter.
I realized the power of building an email list over time. It is something you own, while platforms own your followers.
Now, I have two Substack newsletters:
- “Part-time Creator’s” to connect with readers and share my journey as a writer, and
- “Curiosity Tuesday” to share personal insights about life, self-improvement, and mindfulness.
“Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change.” — Barbara Januszkiewicz
3/ Build Digital Products:
Creating digital products has empowered me. I learned about Gumroad and launched two e-books for free.
I discovered that I thrive on helping others, and this is a way for me to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
You can start with anything worth sharing, whether it’s a checklist, a template, or a story.
4/ Just Start and Figure It Out Later:
Instead of contemplating or procrastinating, I embrace the mindset of starting and figuring things out along the way.
You will never know what you like or dislike unless you try and give it a shot.
Through experimentation, you will learn about your strengths and what resonates with your readers.
Share your unique experiences and stories to forge connections with your audience.
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” — Scott Adams
5/ Build a Writing System That Works for You:
Creative ideas don’t always come easily.
You need to build a system and create an environment that fosters thinking and generates new ideas.
The only way to consistently generate ideas and write is to keep doing it. Establish a writing routine that suits you.
For example,
- I write headlines at night,
- outlines in the morning, and
- edit the article the next day.
Find a routine that works for you and commit to it consistently.
“The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.” — Neil Gaiman
6/ Keep Showing Up:
It took me two years of consistent writing online for people to start noticing me.
Not every post will generate the views you expect, no matter how well-written it is.
The key is to stay consistent, keep showing up, and share your work on different platforms to allow people to discover your writing.
In the beginning stages of your writing journey, quantity often outweighs quality.
I write 12–13 articles per month, and although it requires hard work and time, I show up every day.
Showing up consistently is an underrated skill.
“Creativity takes courage.” — Henri Matisse
Use Free Online Tools to Maximize Returns:
The internet has made our lives easier, and with online tools and apps, it has never been easier to create content.
- I use Medium to schedule posts in advance,
- Canva to design my covers,
- Gumroad for my digital products, and
- a Google Sheet to keep track of my writing routine.
Utilize free tools available to you to streamline your workflow and maximize your productivity.
In summary,
I hope these insights bring you one step closer to your writing journey.
Here’s a recap of what we discussed:
- experiment your way into things,
- build an email list to connect with your readers,
- create digital free products,
- just start and figure it out later,
- build a writing routine that works for you,
- keep showing up, and
- use free tools to help you.
Writing online may seem easy, but it requires hard work.
Like anything else in life, you have to navigate your way through challenges to achieve something worthwhile.
When done right, infinite possibilities await you.
What do you think? Share in comments.
Be Bold
Be Courageous
Be Your Best