A Journey up the Writing Mountain
My response to an interesting writing challenge
A while back, I came across a writing journey challenge by Robin Wilding 💎. Her questions for writers were very inquisitive. Also, many of her responses resonated with me and made me laugh. So I’m giving this a go!
How did you start writing? How long have you been writing for?
I found my passion for writing during a story assignment in first grade. Even after the bell rang, I couldn’t put my pencil down. That was the day I realized that I wanted to be a writer. That was 26 years ago.
As I got older, I enjoyed writing as an outlet for my thoughts, emotions, and desires. I have also loved to use it to connect with others by sharing my experiences and knowledge and providing other writers with feedback.
Would you consider yourself a professional writer?
Experience-wise, I would say that I am a professional writer. I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. A lot of my work has been published in school newspapers and mental health websites. I also self-published a book.
However, I don’t always feel like a professional writer. Like many other writers, after facing rejection, I go, Oh, my writing must be terrible. When I compare myself with others, I think, Dang, I’ll never be able to write like they can. So I am a professional writer with a lot of room for improvement.
What is your favorite article/story that you ever wrote and why?
Some of my stories have been awful; others have been really good. One story that I’m really proud of writing is called “Six Affirmations for Hope.” I started writing that piece when I was going through a difficult time. I thought to myself, What have my friends told me about hard times? What do I wish they would tell me? And what have I believed about hope in the past? Writing the story reminded me of my beliefs and values.
What is your most successful story?
It depends on your definition of success. After thinking about it, I would say that it is something that took a lot of courage and risk to start. Then it ended in a feeling of relief and/or joy.
A few years ago, I won a writing contest about overcoming a loss. The story was published in a book called Sweet Tea for the Soul: Real-Life Stories for the Grieving Heart. It was my most vulnerable story that was published in someone else’s book. That felt pretty successful to me.
Why did you join Medium — and is that why you’re still here?
Initially, I joined Medium for two reasons: to get all of my stories published and to become more inspired to write. I became a paid member and joined the Partnership Program to make a little money and gain access to all Medium stories.
Now I am still here for all of those reasons, but less so for the money aspect. I love to connect with other writers! They are helping me gain confidence and improve my writing skills. I hope I can do the same for them.
What are your best other complementary-to-writing skills?
By doing adult coloring, different colors inspire some of my stories. Experimenting with different color combinations affects my mood, which changes the tone of my writing.
Also, doing Sudoku puzzles stimulates my mind. It requires focus and problem-solving, both of which I incorporate into my work.
Finally, reading books and different articles relevant to my story topics helps me to improve my writing skills.
What are your best Medium tips for newbies? Or, what Medium lessons did you learn the hard way?
Do not write for Medium solely for the money. There are so many stories about how to make millions of dollars on Medium. First of all, many writers lie about their profits. Also, the number of those who do make a lot of money is very low.
Another thing to keep in mind is that this is a great place for freedom of expression. It is a place to be yourself. Write stories about topics you enjoy. Even if you think your topic interest is strange or people won’t like it, it’s okay to share it anyway. You never know who you can inspire.
Speaking of inspiration, become an active part of the community here. You can do this by following and subscribing to other writers, clapping for writers’ stories, leaving comments, and highlighting their content. You will not only gain more views and readers, but you will also help other writers feel good about their work.
Finally, focus on writing your stories rather than viewing your stats. Depending on your goals, stats are important. But you won’t improve your stats if you don’t write. A good way to focus on your stories is to create a writing routine. Even if you only have time to write for a few minutes, every minute counts.
What is one feature you wish Medium had?
I would love to have a way to connect with other writers one-on-one. Also, it would be nice if Medium held events like online writing groups with video sessions. Members could keep each other accountable to write consistently.
Additionally, there could be a forum so that Medium members can find articles more easily. It would also make it easier to find new writers. Those things would make Medium seem even more like a community.
Who are your favorite writers that you follow on Medium (and why)?
This is a hard one because there are so many great writers! A few who come to mind are Bill Abbate, Nancy Blackman, MASF, Jason Edmunds, Som Dutt, and Christine Graves. There are many more! I will add to this as I read more stories and find other writers.
What are you most proud of about yourself here on Medium (views, followers, read ratio, friends you’ve developed, a publication you developed, etc.)?
This is a good question! I’m proud of the number of followers I gain each month. It’s not the most important thing, but it feels really good. Also, I’m proud of the effort I put into my pieces. It’s not always easy to write about overcoming challenges, but it feels like a release after my pieces are published.
What are your writing goals for the future?
There are a few goals: Getting more stories published in various publications, publishing a romance book, and eventually writing full-time. To achieve those goals, I want to read, write, and improve my work every day.
Thank you for reading about my writing journey. If you enjoyed it, check out more of my content below.
Do you like my content so far? Subscribe here to receive updates on my upcoming stories. Also, support Medium writers by becoming a member at the referral link below. For $5 per month, you will gain unlimited access to Medium stories. Part of your contribution will help writers make money for their content.