I really did it, 30 day straight of content. Consistent blogging for a month, honestly if you would have told me I would have accomplished this at the start of the year I probably would have hit you with
Yeaaaaah suuuuure.
What have I learnt I hear you say, firstly I learnt that I can override the perfectionist within me. This challenge forced me to get over myself, often when I am writing (or engaging in other creative endeavours) if I am not loving what I am creating I can grow frustrated and give in. I remember specifically after writing this piece how I agonised for months because I wasn’t as enamoured by whatever I was writing as I was with that piece. In my head I didn’t want to subject my faithful audience to anything less than the brilliance of that piece.
It was a pretty sick piece still.
Consistency trumps quality especially when that consistent and diligent practice helps you refine your craft and crucially try new things. The old me would have never taken the risk at trying my hand at poetry. Which would have been a shame as judging by feedback it was very well received and more importantly I loved writing it. Not only did I dip a toe, I took a damn belly flop into the poetic pool with not one but six poems.
I also learnt to be more patient with myself. The ideas and writing didn’t flow everyday, actually it rarely did. The only piece that came out of me all in one go was my last one. On days when it was harder, instead of letting the pressure get to me, I let go and allowed myself to be open to suggestion and inspiration. When an idea came to me I focused in on it and went to work, persevering even when I wasn’t completely in love with it and well the results speak for themselves (I’ve written more in the last two months than in the previous 2 years). It’s also a lot harder to dislike something when you really give it your best effort. In the past I would half-heartedly write and not like what I wrote prompting me to stop writing only to try again later (with even less vim) repeating this vicious cycle ad nauseam.
This is what it felt like.
The last thing I learnt is that it is never as bad as you think it is in your head. My default excuse for a long time as to why I didn’t write wasn’t even that writing is hard (which it is), it was that I found promotion so daunting. There’s a weird feeling of exposure I get pasting my blog links on my socials. It’s like I feel the writing is dope but I don’t want to bother anyone with it. I’d much rather it be stumbled across and my genius recognised but life doesn’t work like that. You have to blow your own trumpet and truly believe in your work. I am an amazing writer and people are privileged to read my stuff so I have to act like it and that means promoting myself unashamedly. I’m no marketing pro but I have broken through the fear barrier so when I learn how to get myself out there even more, the sky really is the limit.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Finally, I really want to thank you, yes you reading this right now. I appreciate all of you who have read, liked and sent feedback to me during this month of blogging (especially my interim agent). There aren’t suitable words to convey my gratitude. Right from the start I knew I wanted conversation over just me shouting into the void and oh have I heard you recently. You like me being open, vulnerable and even a little poetic and boy do you love consistency – my following has more than doubled during the course of this challenge. I will listen to what you clearly like while expanding into new territory and remembering that consistency is king.
*Writes consistency is king in notes for the 7th time*.
So in conclusion I pushed past my perfectionism, learnt to be more patient and kinder to myself, realised promotion isn’t that bad and how much I really really appreciate you guys. And of course, I smashed my challenge – damn I’m so proud of myself right now.
Peace and Love,
Aharoun the Author
30/30
YEAH BOI
Aharoun the author 