Millions to be god

Retrospect of 18 days writing streak

The title suggests, if you could keep writing for 1 million words continuously, you would take an important role in the area you are writing about. It is very similar to the 10,000 hours principle. Both of them emphasize the importance of keep practicing.

I used to be a short distant runner with above-average sprint. It is a very exciting experience. Within 10 to 30 seconds, you will finish your match and embrace for cheers and applause. But eating bitter failure happens more often. Everything starts and finishes in a glimpse. There is very little room for you to make a mistake, from take-off to finishing line.

Life is long-distance running. The important part is not how good for your take-off, but how you could keep the speed and endurance to reach the finishing line. I hope my writing journey would have similar progress.

As an immigrant, my written English is not good. I know I am in a disadvantaged take-off position. But I want to challenge myself. That is why I started the 30 days writing streak challenge. Now, 18 days pass. I have a deeper understanding of writing.

Responsible for your audience.

I used to have one follower. Now I lose him. But why?

I think I know why.

I wrote some junky articles for 3 days last week. None of them is published in any publication because I know they are not my best writing. I could do better, but I was tired that day, and I need to finish my streak. So here comes those poorly written publishes.

So here comes my follower leaves me. I understand that and I deserve it.

I also read the following word today. If I am not responsible to readers, it means I am not treating myself with respect.

How You Treat Readers Is How You Treat Yourself — Tim Denning

Make an influence on the world

Still remember during my first on-site interview, I was surprised by what the team is doing and exclaimed: “Wow, that could change the world, I want to be part of it.”. At that time, I was 28.

With time flying, I am as secular as other people, daily routine, 9 to 5. I start to lose my ambiance of “changing the world”, and more saturated with regular errands.

But now, I want to pick up my dream of “changing the world”.

But how?

Through writing. I would like to not only write about life/ideas, but also technology and knowledge. Some of them might be new to me as well. Sharing the learning process would bring more people to learn with me. If I could help people to save only 1 second of a detour, I would think that is my contribution to the world. I am changing the world, by that 1 second.

Submit to Publications

If an article is considered as my best writing, it deserves to be seen by more people. Submit to publications is one way to help it to reach more readers. My best 2 articles are both published in “Toward Data Scientist”.

The process to write for publication is also a process of self-improvement. To reach a much higher bar, I would need to polish my grammar/writing/styles, until it is my best writing at the time.

People, who work for publications, are very helpful. They offer me hints, comments, suggestions. Let people help me, and I could grow faster and stronger.

Often, I have been rejected by certain publications. That could because the topic does not fit for that publication. If I submit an article about C++ tips to National Geographic, everyone would expect a rejection. But it could also because my article is not my best written yet. Keep polishing my writing, making it better, and submit again.

Are that lots of work? Yes, they are. It costs me at least 2 hours every night.

Is it worth it? That depends. But to me, yes, it is. This is the way for me to make a bigger impact on the world directly.

Summary

After 18 days of writing streak, I learned my lesson on how to treat my readers and myself. I would like to make my contribution to the world through my readers and make the world a better place for everyone. The publication is a golden opportunity for me to reach more readers and train myself to be a better writer. At least, as the title suggested, more practice is the key to be a better writer.