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Abstract

ome of my 19 stories have been better than others, but I’ve still managed to have nine of them chosen for further distribution. I think that’s pretty good, especially since the stories I write seem to fall into four categories: self-improvement, life lessons, writing, and Medium. I don’t think that posts about Medium are eligible for further distribution, and I write quite a few of those kinds of posts.</p><p id="15b3">Today, on day 15, I can best describe how I feel like this — my brain is tired. I’ve fizzled a bit.</p><p id="2e68">At the beginning of the challenge, I was so proud of myself every time I wrote and published a story. I was thrilled when a story was chosen for further distribution. I was full of energy.</p><p id="6ff3">But now, it’s starting to feel like old hat. Another day, another story or two.</p><p id="1794">And I’m running out of ideas. And I feel like my quality of writing is declining. And I feel sloppy. And I feel tired. And I could really go for a big ol’ bag of chocolate.</p><p id="25c7">I’m sure you understand what I’m trying to say.</p><p id="ef5e">Getting started wasn’t the challenge that I thought it would be. Continuing is the real challenge.</p><p id="112c">As they say, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.</p><p id="1528">Being successful at this challenge, and at Medium in general, is a marathon.</p><p id="a100">I am a sprinter by nature. I run really fast at the beginning; I get to the bag of chocolate, then I take a nap and do it again.</p><p id="55c7">Unfortunately, that’s not how this challenge, or Medium, is set up. You have to be consistent and persistent; there is no way to avoid that part, no matter how fast you run at the beginning.</p><p id="6e75">I failed to pace myself.</p><p id="02ec">So, I’ll mentally regroup and keep going until I reach the end of the challenge in 15 more days.</p><p id="b5f8">My ultimate goal is to do another 30-day challenge after I complete this first one. And I will continue to follow it up with another and another 30-day challenge. Eventually, I will have a year of publishing every day under my belt.</p><p id="4ea6">I am convinced that anyone who learns to write as if the challenges, or Medium, are marathons will be successful.</p><p id="dffc">It’s all in your mind.</p><p id="80d1">If you operate with the proper mindset, everything else wil

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l fall into place.</p><p id="08b8"><a href="http://lindakowalchek.ck.page">If you like what you just read, please join my email list here.</a></p><p id="9fe3"><i>Linda Kowalchek is a work in progress and a member of the typewriter generation. She spends her time with her husband and her rescue cats waiting for golf balls to crash through their windows. PSA: Don’t live next to a golf course.</i></p><div id="b3a2" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-fellow-medium-writer-who-i-didnt-know-invited-me-to-join-a-challenge-ad84ce1772df"> <div> <div> <h2>A Fellow Medium Writer Who I Didn’t Know Invited Me To Join a Challenge</h2> <div><h3>Here’s what happened.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*zULiFtWvJgQuUaqguwCIGw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="7794" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/everyone-should-have-a-chance-to-do-better-on-medium-ee196f42a1b8"> <div> <div> <h2>Everyone Should Have a Chance To Do Better on Medium</h2> <div><h3>A writing challenge for busy people.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*8uq5GSWYXnH_L50E81-6KA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="a26c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-one-thing-that-you-need-to-be-a-success-on-medium-that-nobody-talks-about-eacf2b0d5aa5"> <div> <div> <h2>The One Thing That You Need To Be a Success on Medium That Nobody Talks About</h2> <div><h3>It’s not followers.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*m7rRDV0G2d60gQB3RueE7w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

I’m 15 Days Into a 30-Day Writing Challenge

What you can learn from my progress so far.

Fifteen days ago, Berna Tural left a comment on one of my stories. She indicated that, like me, she had difficulty publishing regularly, and she was also struggling with publishing consistently.

Berna invited me to join a 30-day writing challenge that she was in. She thought that participating in the challenge would help each of us improve our writing habits.

The challenge required publishing 30 stories in 30 days. I accepted Berna’s invitation.

This challenge is something that you do for yourself; it is not a way to compete with other writers. The writers act as a support system for each other. It’s an excellent plan.

I’m 15 days along in the challenge, and I’ve learned so much about myself and my writing habits. It’s been a great experience.

I am so thankful that Berna reached out to me to extend an invitation.

I thought that I would start sluggish in the challenge and that it would feel like so much work to publish every day. Surprisingly, it wasn’t bad at all. In fact, I looked forward to publishing each day. I felt that I had accomplished something significant.

There were even days that I just wanted to keep on writing beyond the one-story-a-day goal that I had set for myself. So, I kept going.

I have published 19 stories so far, so I’m a little bit ahead of where I am supposed to be in the challenge at this point. But I’m not going to allow myself any time off simply because I have a stockpile of four stories.

I know myself too well; if I take some time off, it will likely be difficult for me to get back on track and continue the challenge. It’s crucial that I successfully make it through the month, and I’m not going to take any unnecessary risks that could interfere with reaching the finish line.

Some of my 19 stories have been better than others, but I’ve still managed to have nine of them chosen for further distribution. I think that’s pretty good, especially since the stories I write seem to fall into four categories: self-improvement, life lessons, writing, and Medium. I don’t think that posts about Medium are eligible for further distribution, and I write quite a few of those kinds of posts.

Today, on day 15, I can best describe how I feel like this — my brain is tired. I’ve fizzled a bit.

At the beginning of the challenge, I was so proud of myself every time I wrote and published a story. I was thrilled when a story was chosen for further distribution. I was full of energy.

But now, it’s starting to feel like old hat. Another day, another story or two.

And I’m running out of ideas. And I feel like my quality of writing is declining. And I feel sloppy. And I feel tired. And I could really go for a big ol’ bag of chocolate.

I’m sure you understand what I’m trying to say.

Getting started wasn’t the challenge that I thought it would be. Continuing is the real challenge.

As they say, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Being successful at this challenge, and at Medium in general, is a marathon.

I am a sprinter by nature. I run really fast at the beginning; I get to the bag of chocolate, then I take a nap and do it again.

Unfortunately, that’s not how this challenge, or Medium, is set up. You have to be consistent and persistent; there is no way to avoid that part, no matter how fast you run at the beginning.

I failed to pace myself.

So, I’ll mentally regroup and keep going until I reach the end of the challenge in 15 more days.

My ultimate goal is to do another 30-day challenge after I complete this first one. And I will continue to follow it up with another and another 30-day challenge. Eventually, I will have a year of publishing every day under my belt.

I am convinced that anyone who learns to write as if the challenges, or Medium, are marathons will be successful.

It’s all in your mind.

If you operate with the proper mindset, everything else will fall into place.

If you like what you just read, please join my email list here.

Linda Kowalchek is a work in progress and a member of the typewriter generation. She spends her time with her husband and her rescue cats waiting for golf balls to crash through their windows. PSA: Don’t live next to a golf course.