This is Day 11 of my 30-day writing challenge. Today’s task is to write a “lessons learned” blog post from a personal failure or mistake.
I used to love writing in school—poems, songs, and journal entries filled my notebooks. But as life moved forward, writing faded into the background. Work, responsibilities, and daily routines took over.
Two years ago, I discovered writers on social media. Their words inspired me. Digital writing fascinated me. I wanted to be part of that world, so I started planning my return to writing.
That’s when I made my biggest mistake.
The Mistake
Instead of writing, I convinced myself I needed more preparation. I thought reading would make me a better writer, so I filled my app with hundreds of books. I devoured them, hoping they would transform me into a great writer.
Then I thought, “I need to learn how to write first.” So, I took online courses, joined writing communities, and studied techniques. The lessons were insightful. The discussions were engaging. I felt encouraged.
But I still wasn’t writing.
I was waiting for the perfect moment. These thoughts kept holding me back:
- “I don’t know enough.”
- “I’m not ready to write publicly.”
- “I should rewatch that writing course.”
- “What if people don’t like my writing?”
So I waited. Another year passed. I kept “learning.”
The Turning Point
The turning point came when a writer I admired told me:
“You will never be ready. You just need to start.”
He shared how he began with zero views and zero followers. But he wrote and published daily. Over time, people noticed. Opportunities followed.
At the end of last year, I finally pulled the trigger.
I started posting on Meta Threads—first short posts, then long-form deep dives. I launched my weekly newsletter. Now, I write a blog post every day. At first, it felt like starting a car on a freezing morning—rough and slow. But once the engine warmed up, everything ran smoothly.
My follower count is growing. Slowly, but surely.
More importantly, writing daily has transformed how I think. It forces me to clarify my ideas, organize my thoughts, and express them in words.
I wish I had started sooner instead of waiting for the perfect moment.
Lessons Learned:
- The perfect moment doesn’t exist. The best time to start writing was yesterday. The next best time is now.
- You know more than you think. Start writing. You’ll research and refine as you go. Don’t fall into the endless learning trap.
- Momentum comes from movement. The hardest part is starting. Once you do, it gets easier.
- Consistency matters more than perfection. It’s easier to stay in motion than to restart after stopping.
- Not everything you write will be great—and that’s okay. Publish, gather feedback, improve.
- Follower count doesn’t define success. If you’re just starting, focus on writing consistently. The audience will follow.
If you’re like me—waiting for the perfect time—please don’t. Perfect timing is an illusion.
Here’s What You Can Do:
- Start small. Challenge yourself to write daily for seven days. The key is accountability and consistency.
- Publish now. Social media, blogs—it doesn’t matter. Get your work out there.
Try it for a month. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your writing engine starts running.
