I blogged every day for the last 100 days—here’s what I learned
Today is the 100th day of the year, and this is my 100th blog in 100 days.
This isn’t the first time I’ve done a challenge like this, so my learnings are different from when I first took on a 100 day challenge (or a 60 day challenge, or a 30 day challenge). I feel more seasoned as a writer, having published my first book since the last time I took on a challenge like this—but also, daily writing still challenges me in a new way every day. The resistance shows up in cunning and crafty ways no matter what stage of the journey you’re at.
Here are four things I’ve learned from blogging 100 days in a row.
1 - Having research is crucial
Most of my blogging the past 100 days was done in preparation for my next book, about creative consistency. In preparation for this book, I pulled together a list of articles, stories, studies, and quotes that I wanted to explore under the lens of creative consistency. Having this list of research in advance proved crucial, because there are some days when the ideas just weren’t flowing. On these days, I was able to draw from my research, and write about one study or one idea I pulled prior. If you’re taking on a daily challenge, gathering a running list of inspiration or ideas is key to keep things moving, even on the tough days.
2 - Some days you don’t feel like what you are
Prior to taking on this 100-day challenge, I had published a book, I had written over 800 articles, and I had done numerous copywriting projects for clients. I was a writer, through and through. But some days, I didn’t feel like one. I sat down, wrote one sentence, realized it sounded dumb, I deleted it, I wrote another one, and then deleted that one, too. Even though logically, I couldn’t deny that I was a writer, emotionally, I didn’t feel like one some days. Being connected to how you feel is important for every artist—but compartmentalization between how you feel and what you create may be even more important.
3 - Superlatives are bad writing and bad living
There’s a temptation to avoid doing creative work because we know we can’t make a masterpiece today. We know we won’t create the greatest thing anyone’s ever seen, so we wonder “what’s the point of creating at all?” We let this mindset keep us from creative consistency, leading to weeks or months of a creative void. It seeps into our non-creative lives as well; we say experiences “couldn’t have gone better” or that we “couldn’t be more excited” about them—as if they wouldn’t be worth it if they weren’t the greatest. There’s always room for things to be better, and we don’t need to have a superlative experience to enjoy what’s in front of us. The truth that’s hard (yet imperative) to accept is this: we don’t live the greatest lives, and we don’t create the greatest art, yet, even still there’s undeniable beauty in each of life’s moments, and in every hour spent creating. Consider a field of flowers—most aren’t perfect, and many are broken—but they come together to create a breathtaking canvas that graces even mundane corners of the earth.
4 - It’s still difficult, but every rep counts
Even though I’ve written over 900 articles, it’s still difficult. I’ve figured out tricks. I’ve got more confidence. I know my style. But it’s still hard. What I’ve realized in the middle of the hard days, and the days when the output isn’t that great is that every rep counts. Even the days when I’m stumbling through the sentences, when the connections are just out of reach, and when I can’t find the words to say what I really mean, those reps count, too. They add up. Looking back on 100 blog posts shows me dozens and dozens of quality ideas that I can’t wait to take another crack at for my book.
If you’re interested in a short-term creative challenge that will help you discover your own creative consistency, sign up for the waitlist of the 15-Day Creative Consistency Challenge, coming this summer.
See you tomorrow!
