A Year in Reflection
What blogging has taught me as a new writer
A year ago, I ventured into uncharted territory by starting a Substack. Back then, I had no idea what I wanted to write about, nor which artistic direction I wanted to take. Still, I forged on through my fears and uncertainty, and came out on the other end with “Sixth Planet”— a medium for my writing, a nod to my love of the cosmos, and a stand-in for my actual name. All symbolism aside, in the year since starting Sixth Planet, I have grown more courageous in sharing my creations with the world — a far cry from the writer whose fear once caused a months-long spell of writer’s block. Needless to say, starting this blog and embracing its innate journey has been an incredibly transformative and expansive learning experience for me. The lessons I have learned along the way are countless and ever-changing, but here are some of my favorites:
Writing is a meditative practice that demands consistency
No one becomes an experienced writer overnight — regardless of natural talent. Making a habit (or ritual, if you will) out of writing, journaling, or otherwise is essential to flexing your creative muscles, sharpening your voice, and expanding your creative vision. Start by writing something small every day!
The only voice that matters is…yours!
Speaking of finding your voice, after reflecting on the writing I have done in the past year, I noticed how artificial my voice sounded in my earlier work and concluded that, in the past, I put too much emphasis on sounding esteemed, rather than honoring the voice that felt authentic to me. Many novice writers also make the same mistake. In looking ahead, as I learn more about the craft of writing, I am more intentional about prioritizing my voice and allowing it to shape what and how I create.
Writer’s block is just your inner judge taking over
Nikki Giovanni once said, “You must be unintimidated by your own thoughts, because if you write with someone looking over your shoulder, you’ll never write.” As someone who suffered from severe bouts of writer’s block, this quote resonated with me deeply — especially once I got to the root of the issue: fear and self-judgment. Now, I am a more creative and prolific writer because I have learned to silence that inner judge. All writers need to understand this. Silencing the inner judge looks like not immediately editing your words, and allowing them to flow without criticism. Editing too early disrupts your creative process and keeps you from exploring its depths because you prune your words before they take on a life of their own. So in 2026 and onward, I am leaning into writing more messy drafts, sitting with them for a bit, then coming back at a later time to excavate stories or ideas from them.
Reading more books, especially fiction, is non-negotiable
It may seem counterintuitive for me to suggest learning to develop your voice in section 2, then suggesting that you read more of other people’s work in this section. But, trust me, one does not negate the other! In fact, reading a wide array of books is a necessary part of coming into yourself as a writer. Reading also helps build your inner world and model important skills such as punctuation, vocabulary use, and grammar. As the cliche saying goes, “reading is fundamental!” But reading can also be a roadmap for all writers, beginner to advanced.
In the wake of Sixth Planet’s anniversary, I will continue to keep the lessons I have learned close throughout my writing journey. Though I can not say where this journey will lead me, I know that I have cultivated a safe digital space to house my random ideas and musings, which is more than enough for me, because Sixth Planet reflects who I am at my core: a woman of many interests and desires. And what better way to show these parts of myself than by doing what matters to me most, writing!