Overcome the Resistance to Write
Today marks the 7th day of the 30-day writing challenge, and I’ve noticed a growing resistance within me when it comes to writing. Surprisingly, it’s not due to a lack of ideas; on the contrary, my mind is brimming with more inspiration than ever before. However, my expectations have risen with each post, particularly after writing about socially acceptable or common topics like “Top Healthcare Technology” and “Cold Outreach for Job Search.”
In comparison, pieces such as “Yoga to Heal” and “Thank You for Guiding Me” feel more like entries in a personal, intimate journal. I question their value to the audience and worry about exposing myself too much. A conflict has emerged between writing from my genuine self and crafting curated content that benefits the readers.
I’ve started to experience a sense of inadequacy in my writing. However, if I need to write for audiences, I also find myself unmotivated to write because I need to suppress my genuine self and conform to what others might like.
My fear of writing can be summarized as the following:
- My writing isn’t good enough. Too short, too scattered, lack of takeaway, like a journal…
- My content isn’t beneficial to others.
- I feel exposed when other people read my intimate thoughts.
And here are more fear going on. For instance, I perceive my Mandarin writing skills to have deteriorated and I can’t bear to read my own writing in Mandarin.
Gladly, the main purpose of the 30-day writing challenge isn’t about generating popular content, but combatting the resistance to write. Tung taught me to stop worrying about how other people think or the quality of my output, and simply jot down whatever comes to mind. This empowers me to continue even when I encounter resistance.
My resistance issue is tied to a book I’m currently reading, the War of Art. My former Meta manager, Nick, recommended it to me when I told him I felt so difficult initiating my own programming project. This book is all about why we resist creating and how to overcome it.
The one quote that strikes me the most is
“I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.” — Somerset Maugham
This quote shows that consistency is more important than inspiration, quality, and content, and all other fear inside me. If I generate trash for 30 days, embrace it. The sole commitment I make to myself each day is to write one post. I ride on this momentum. I anchor writing as the mark of the day.
A friend expressed admiration, saying, “I can’t believe you started a 30-day writing challenge right after going through a breakup.”
Another friend chimed in, adding, “And she doesn’t even need accountability.”
These remarks serve as a reminder to celebrate rather than criticize myself. I celebrate my determination and momentum that most people might not even have for their entire life.
Pondering on my fear, today I also realized that the key to writing consistently lies in positioning myself correctly. I write not to seek fame or create productive value in the world. I write for myself, to give voice to my thoughts in the world, and for those who appreciate my genuine self.
So, I choose celebration. Another day, another slay.
This is the 7th post from my 30-day writing challenges. I was inspired by Tung Nguyen, a friend who is a famous blogger. He overcame the fear of creation through mass-producing blogs and eventually found his own niche audiences.
