Summary

An individual transitioned from academic writing to daily article writing for 950 days, building an audience and a career as a writer.

Abstract

The author, initially immersed in scientific studies and business, discovered a passion for writing after making a mere $0.07 online in April 2020. Despite the modest beginning, the act of writing daily articles for an extended period, without immediate recognition or financial reward, allowed for personal growth and clarity of thought. Over time, the writer amassed a substantial following, published books, and launched products, all while maintaining a commitment to daily writing. The journey has been one of self-discovery, motivation, and gratitude, with the writer expressing a deep appreciation for the craft and the impact on readers.

Opinions

Writing online can lead to a sense of liberation and the realization of infinite possibilities beyond traditional salary-bound employment.
Early stages of writing without an audience can foster creativity and personal motivation, as external validation is absent.
The writer values the introspective process of writing as a means of challenging and refining one's thoughts.
The act of writing and sharing content is inherently valuable, providing a therapeutic outlet and a platform for connecting with others.
The writer emphasizes the importance of enjoying the creative process and continuous learning, rather than focusing solely on outcomes or metrics.
There is an encouragement for others to pursue their creative passions part-time, suggesting that even without quitting one's job, one can build a fulfilling creative endeavor.

I Wrote An Article a Day for 950 Days Here’s What Happened

I used to write to nobody. Now I have an audience

I never was destined to be a writer.

I studied science at University, writing was never my thing. I went on to do a business graduate scheme, and up until 25, and the only writing I knew was academic and awkward.

White papers don’t make for good reading.

They use words nobody has ever heard of. They are confusing and frustrating to read but that was the writing I was used to. Complicated words make you sound smart. At least that’s what I thought.

In April 2020, everything changed.

$0.07

That was the first pay cheque I made on the internet.

Internet money feels different. It feels like a cheat. It feels like a mental unlock. You’re never quite the same after you’ve made any money on the internet.

All of a sudden the lights go on. It’s just numbers. If you can make $0.07, you can make $70 and then $700, and then *gulp* $7000. Making your first dollar on the internet changes your outlook.

You go from salary-bound to infinite possibilities. And that energy, if channelled effectively, can motivate you for years to come. It has me.

That first month

That first month I wrote 2 articles on the internet. I never intended to do this writing thing for 2.5 years. I never thought it would last. Nothing ever does.

Instead, I wrote because I felt compelled to. It felt good to get all the things I was thinking off my chest and out into the world, even if nobody was reading my words. That didn’t matter. It felt like I was talking to a therapist and they were just there saying ‘tell me more’.

So I did. I wrote and wrote and wrote. Those articles in the beginning barely made sense. I mean honestly. I can’t bare to read them back, they were that bad.

I was posting them on LinkedIn and walking away.

It felt great.

When nobody reads your work you can create freely

For a year nobody read a thing.

The pay cheques I got from writing would barely buy me a takeaway. I didn’t realise it at the time but it was the best thing that could happen to me. You see, because I wasn’t getting paid or nobody was telling me I was doing a good job, I had to find other things to motivate me.

I was forced to look elsewhere for reasons to keep writing. It’s then I did my deepest thinking. It was then I realised that I was getting something much purer than money or likes, I was getting clarity.

For the first time in my life, I was thinking about what I was thinking. It sounds kind of wild but the best thing about writing is for me to challenge my own thoughts.

To ask questions of my thoughts, to decide whether those thoughts are worth keeping or if they are simple rubbish thoughts. I’d never done that before.

The long road to here

It’s been a long road to get here. About 950 days to be exact.

I’ve written an article every day for 950 days. I’ve not always published those articles, but I’ve written those articles. To date, I’ve written 732 articles.

I never thought I’d write for nearly 1000 days on the internet. In honesty, I didn’t think past month 2. I didn’t because I had no idea where this thing could lead. I just wrote because I had something to say and I felt better when I said it.

It strikes me only now that this was the best way to start anything. I did it because I liked it. In the beginning, curiosity was enough. Today I write because I love it. Because it gives me more than I can ever ask for.

I’m forever grateful for writing and that’s why I keep writing.

Onwards

I have no idea what the future will bring. So far things have gotten bigger than I could have ever imagined. I’ve got a website, and a newsletter, I’ve released my first product, and I’ve written a couple of books.

And honestly, people seem to resonate with what I’m doing. The number of people I’ve had reach out to me to say thank you or that this helped me has been incredible.

You never think that. It’s easy to forget that numbers on a follow count are people. Real people who have thoughts and feelings just like you. People who have hardships, bad days and ambitions. I have more people reading my work than I could ever reasonably talk to in one sitting, it’s wild.

So I suppose moving forwards what’s next?

Well, the easy answer is 950 more days, that’s the simple bit. The hard bit is working out what I want those 950 days to feel like because really, I do have a large part to play in that.

The word I’ll go with is grateful. I want the next 950 days to be ones where I feel so blessed to be doing this, to have found my passion to have built this thing in my little corner of the internet. I want the next 950 days to be about enjoying every step. Taking it one step at a time and focusing on learning.

Keep your job, and create on the side. Join the hundreds in the Part-time Creators Club for free. I’ll send you one tip on a Saturday up your creator game. 🚀