My first published article did NOT go viral. How could that be? It was such a strong piece.

How do you like my beginner writer’s confidence? Such early grand illusions…

Thankfully, becoming an overnight sensation was never the point. Writing is.

Last month, a long-overdue moment arrived: I finally put my thoughts on paper. Then, I decided to share it with the world. And kept on going after that!

It has been a month since my official writing debut, and what a busy and exciting experience it is proving to be. This is SO much more than strictly crafting words into stories. Here’s what I’ve discovered…

1. It Lights My Fire

Every time I’ve completed a writing piece I feel…exhilarated.

Then comes the time to share it with others so I hit Publish and oh, how that fans the flames. 

2. Approval Ratings WILL Matter

I’ve never been so thrilled by a ‘Like’ as right now when someone reacts to a published piece! It is so uncharacteristic of me to care much about validation by social media (shudder) yet this one finds me doing a little happy dance when a kind reader gives the thumbs up. Woo hoo!

On the flip side of that, I have already decided that lower ratings won’t mean that I stop producing this writing show. 

3. Not Everyone Agrees With You Or Likes Your Work. And That’s Okay

Every story is told from the unique perspective of its writer. Some of the people that read your work are interested in the theme and another person’s perspective on it. Others will not be as receptive to your work if they can’t relate it back to their own experiences or it doesn’t align with their ideas.

So the task then becomes to find my niche audience (hopefully some will find me) and we will carry on and vibe together in this beautiful world of storytelling.

4. Keep Going, No Matter What

It’s only my first month of writing and already I’ve learnt this: some articles will be a big hit, and some will fall flat on audiences. While the latter is disappointing, sure, it is much needed in the process of learning about what content works and what doesn’t. An interesting follow-up exercise can be digging into the “why’s” of the popular and not-so-successful content.

So believe it or not, I welcome the mix of good days and bad days (though obviously hoping that the good far outweighs the bad!)

5. Inspiration Strikes When You’re Not Trying So Hard To Summon It

Picture this: I’ve set the stage perfectly: it is early in the morning and not a soul is stirring except for the bird life. There’s freshly brewed coffee in a cute mug that says something cheesy and inspirational like ‘Today is Yours For the Taking’, and I’m poised in front of my laptop, earnestly waiting for a sudden bolt of creativity to hit me. Waiting… yet nothing comes.

On the other hand, an idea followed by a few perfect sentences will hit me smack dab in the middle of a cycling expedition, or in casual conversation with friends. Inspiration has arrived. Yet, I wasn’t trying. The morale of this story: Release. Let it flow. 

So there you have it. These are the early seeds of insight into my writing experience. I can’t help but wonder and feel excited about what the upcoming months may have in store for me… let’s GO!