I'm Not A Writer, So Why Do A 30 Day Writing Challenge?

I've never considered myself a writer. Not a real one anyway. You know, one of those people who's articles get thousands of claps on Medium? Yeah...that's not me. I mean, I've dabbled in writing. I had a weekly blog with my best friend in high school (RIP 'Confessions of Two City Girls'). Oh, and there was that time I wrote Harry Potter fanfiction. But who hasn't, right? Yes, I've written a few blog posts. Still, none of that makes me a writer. So why bother doing a 30 Day Writing Challenge?

I've never been the type of person to shy away from a challenge. But I'll admit when I heard about the #30DayWritingChallenge, I was a little intimidated. What was I supposed to write about every day for 30 days?! Would anyone read anything I'd write? Above all, I'm not a writer, so what's the point?

*This is the part where my inner self decides to play Devil's advocate*

For one, you don't have to be a writer to reap the benefits of doing a challenge like this. No matter what industry you're in, you have some written component to it. Marketers, software developers, everyone can benefit from more writing practice. That means you too.

The benefits don't stop at getting in more practice, however. By committing to writing new content every day for 30 days, it forces you to get creative and think outside the box, which is another skill that is transferrable to pretty much any industry. Hopefully, you see a theme...

Finally, #30DayWritingChallenge is a lesson in reliability. You've publicly promised to do this. Anybody can say they're going to do something, but how many people follow through? At the end of 30 days, you'll have tangible evidence that shows, "Hey, when I say I'm going to do something, I mean it.” Another one! Another valuable asset you can bring to the job market.

What started as "just a writing challenge" evolved into an opportunity to build skills and in the long run, will make you more attractive to the job market. It's not going to be easy. It'll push you, and you may even consider throwing your laptop out the window. Before you do that, breathe. Then get back to writing. Your future self will thank you.

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Well, after a stern talking to from my inner self, I realized I had nothing to lose by taking on this challenge. I'll get some practice in, build a portfolio, gain valuable skills and who knows? I may not be a writer now, but I could be.