8 years of Blogging, 8 lessons Learned, 8 Posts

“Writing is the act of discovery.”
― Natalie Goldberg, (Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within)

 

This blog just turned 8 years old (in July).  I thought it would be fun to mark the occasion by reflecting on 8 lessons learned in that time, related to writing here.

 

 

8 Lessons Learned

 

1. Life is Better with Writing In It

Writing is important to me.  It’s not all encompassing but it adds colour to my life.

 

As much as I write for the reader, and hope to be of value to you, I’ve realised I also write for myself.  If too long slips without dedicated time to write, a balance feels off.

 

Writing regularly has meant I now view the world around me through a different lens.  Writing is creative breathing for me.

 

 

2. Blogging Leads to New Connections & Opportunity

I’ve been fortunate to interview some people I really admire and that have inspired me, such as Leo Babauta and Danny Kavadlo.  I’ve been interviewed myself (including on live TV).  I’ve made new friends.

 

None of these connections would have happened without the blog.

 

 

3. You Feel Like You Are Repeating Yourself

8 years, creeping up on 300 essays here (and hundreds elsewhere), mean I no doubt have repeated myself over the years.  Ideas need refinement.

 

 

4. Ideas Evolve, So Do Blogs

Although the ethos of the blog has remained relatively intact, my ideas for what to write about have shifted over the years.

 

Whilst most of what I write about is under the broad umbrella of simplifying life and finding focus, I allow myself space to roam.  To that end, some of my poetry (haiku) has made it here, along with some more philosophical posts.  I’ve written long posts and very concise posts.  Each felt right at the time.  I hope the reader has enjoyed the roaming.

 

In terms of future plans, I have a bank of new posts that are ready to be released here over coming months.  I also plan to refresh, and reign in, some older posts that I had written elsewhere, that could benefit from new life being breathed into them.

 

With all of this, writing offsite, and more book projects planned, writing promises to keep me busy for years to come.

 

 

5. Writing Creates Discipline

Having a blog, and working on book projects, has kept me accountable and created discipline in my writing.

 

The posts and books will not write themselves.  Ideas will not refine themselves.  Drafts will not edit themselves.

 

This means I need to make writing a priority, amongst other priorities in my life.

 

 

6. Not Everyone Will Care (Even People that Care About You)

A bitter pill to swallow when you start blogging is that not everyone will care.  Even big milestones, like the first time I published a book (and every book since) are barely met with a flicker of interest, from people that are in my life.

 

Such is the life of any writer (or creative) of course, but fair warning to those that are trying something similar.  Your ego can get dented fast. Which in itself, is not always a bad thing.

 

 

7. Writing Here Has Led to Writing There

My writing adventures have seen me write all over the web.

 

Amongst others, I’ve written for:

 

My writing has literally been read all over the world.  My books have been brought from most corners of the planet.  That’s all pretty cool and humbling.  I am grateful.

 

8. Writing is Hard But Rewarding All At Once

In summary, I can’t really imagine life without the blog now.  I don’t want to.  I’m still passionate about what I share here and my plans for the site.  Writing here (and my books) brings me much challenge and joy, all wrapped in one.

 

Although it’s not the only way I pay the bills, I am definitely a writer.  I think I always have been to some degree.

 

If the creative urge calls from inside, I encourage you to start your own blog, or YouTube channel or whatever other platform speaks to you.  Maybe you’ll be doing your own retrospective pieces in 8 years’ time, if you do.

 

 

8 of My Favourite Frictionless Posts

This almost certainly is a moving target but as I write this, the following 8 are calling to me:

 

 

 

A big thank you to all of you reading this and to anyone that has supported my writing, and the blog, to this point.

 

 

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