Dear Penelope Bridgerton, thank you!

Just as I finished the last episode of Bridgerton season 3 yesterday, I was in awe of Penelope Bridgerton and her fight to claim her identity as a writer—even if it was all filled with so much drama and surprises! And it is this constant tug of war that all writers, dreamers, creators, and innovators go through—this passage of challenges and periods of dry spells where nothing seems to make sense anymore, and you are again back to the beginning.

I remember when I started writing my blog on WordPress to share book reviews only. The more I wrote, the more I felt the words pour into the page effortlessly. Sometimes I look at my previous blogs and wonder, Did I write that? Am I that capable? How did I write it? And after writing for a while, writing became complicated, as it usually does with life moving forward. For starters, I began comparing my writing with that of other bloggers and book reviewers.

As much as I enjoy consuming content created by others, it’s nearly impossible to avoid experiencing imposter syndrome, where you begin to question your own capabilities due to constant comparisons. Somewhere in my mind, the joy of writing suddenly felt overwhelming because I couldn’t reach large audiences or monetize my content, not because of my writing but because of how unaware I am of various strategies that need to be implemented to make things work on the internet. And that takes me to the second point—the algorithm game.

The process of SEO and keyword research, ensuring the title is engaging and can attract more viewers, writing summaries, sharing content across multiple platforms, and so much more—there’s a lot of work to be completed before hitting the ‘publish’ button. After publishing, keeping track of the number of readers and feedback received is another aspect that can be rewarding at times and challenging at others.

Also, part of my fault lies in this expectation that I can produce quality results again and again whenever I feel like it. I’ve now learned that great writing comes with consistent practice, not just when inspiration strikes. Like strength training, creativity needs a constant outlet to flow effortlessly. So, make it happen every day or most days, and you’ll see progress happening gradually, not overnight.

In the spirit of Penelope, I pledge to write as often as I can, whether in my journal, gratitude notebook, blogs, or newsletters. I will remind myself that my creativity is my legacy. And if I can inspire just one person to pursue their passions or revive their once-loved pursuits, then I would consider myself successful.

Here’s a writing affirmation that I wrote to keep me motivated:

Let go of your thoughts and feelings about how many likes, shares, or comments your post will receive. Write for yourself, first and foremost. Be authentic and write what truly resonates with you. Your experiences are unique, so do not make them mediocre by trying to imitate someone else. Give your voice the chance it deserves.

P.S.: I can’t promise that I won’t feel overwhelmed again, but I promise to try not to be deterred by my feelings💯🤓

Thank you so much for reading this post. Cheers!

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