What I Learned From Writing 100 Medium Articles

This is my 100th Medium article.
I thought I'd have something grand to say by now something profound, maybe even well-organized.

Instead, what I've got is a list. Not quite a checklist, not quite poetry. Just 100 things I've learned from writing here over the past year.

Some of its advice. Some of it's nonsense. Most of it's somewhere in between.

It's messy, repetitive, honest, just like the writing process itself.
And that's kind of the point. So first things first:
1. Start
2. then keep on going
3. keep consistent
4. doesn't have to be daily but enough where it matters
5. The goal is to show your potential readers that you are going to stick around.
6. Don't listen to others' advice online, it sucks
7. learn how to fall in love with writing
8. with the goal of being able to write for a long and fun time
9. not for a short period.
10. When you start, the goal shouldn't be the money
11. the goal should be about expression
12. and finding inspiration, or sharing your experiences
13. your stories or perspectives.
14. It's not something you find in other people's advice
15. screw niches
16. screw trends and SEO and titles
17. its your art form, do it your way.
18. Forget about fame; become renowned for something meaningful.
19. You're not a talented writer
20. that's the point
21. the idea is that you get better
22. Improving is why you should do it.
23. Stay humble
24. even if you start to find success
25. uphold your authenticity
26. don't do it for algorithms
27. don't do it for the readers
28. the readers are looking for someone to resonate with
29. you aren't looking for approval
30. you're doing this because you had a feeling.
31. The quiet confidence your perspective is worth sharing
32. a story worth telling
33. advice worth giving
34. if you started for the money
35. it means, you think you have value to provide
36. if you did it because you thought it was going to be easy
37. haha
38. Good luck with that.
39. If you're just a reader
40. welcome
41. I'm quite fond of people like you
42. the explorers
43. the learners
44. the modern day discoverers.
45. It's because of you, writers are worth anything
46. so thank you for reading.
47. Keep that curiosity
48. continue to learn
49. be critical
50. not too critical though, keep an open-mind
51. share your wisdom
52. if you're looking for answers in others people's words.
53. I'm sorry to let you down but
54. you'll never find them
55. if you're looking for wisdom
56. When was the last time you actually took a fortune cookie seriously?
57. The path, the understanding, the answers
58. nobody else has the answer to your questions
59. or the solution to your problems
60. only you do.
61. If you aren't happy
62. good
63. that means you know it
64. its better than not knowing it
65. it's better to know that you need the change rather than not
66. I guess
67. what do I know?
68. Break the rules again

If we're being honest, yeah, that got repetitive real fast.

It's unpolished. Sentimental. Predictable. Unpredictable. But it's mine. And it's exactly what writing feels like.

This article is my version of pineapple on pizza - not everyone's taste, but undeniably unconventional. And that might be the biggest lesson I've learned after writing 100 of these damn things. 

I didn't start with a "voice." I didn't even know if I had one. But now? I know exactly what mine sounds like. Maybe not perfect, but authentic. Recognizable. My own.

Funny thing is, I almost didn't start writing at all. Not because I didn't want to but because I was tangled up in every form of self-sabotage, you can name. 

Fear of looking dumb. Perfectionism. Worrying about what people would think. Comparing myself to writers already "making it." And of course, that little voice whispering, "Who the hell are you to even try?"

Sound familiar?

If you take anything away from this mess, let it be this: those voices never really went away. They were always along for the ride, but I stopped letting them call the shots. So here are the final bits of advice:

99. The only way out is through. Start before you're ready. Let discomfort be the receipt proof that you're doing something that matters.

100. Writing's real power isn't in the words. It's in the voice. If you're willing to risk embarrassment, you'll find yours. And if you find yours, odds are, you might help someone else find theirs too.

And to you still reading this thank you. Whether this is your first time here or you've stuck around for a while, it means the world that you gave me your attention. Even just for a few minutes.

Here's to the next 100.