It’s been just over two years since I started writing online.

Every single day, after my morning coffee, I’ve made it a ritualistic practice where I’d open up my laptop, write for about ten minutes, and publish whatever stood out on Twitter.

Some days it’s a personal story. On others, it’s actionable advice. If it sounds really simple, that’s because it is. It has little to no friction and follows three simple actions: read, write, and publish.

This simple feedback loop alone has compounded extraordinary results over the past year: tens of thousands of followers, friendships from across the globe, and endless opportunities. The list goes on and on. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Not exactly.

It wasn’t until recently I realized this routine might have done more harm than good. My audience grew, but I felt that my skill as a writer and love for the craft were stagnating.

Writing, an activity that I always enjoyed as a child, finally reemerged into my life, brought me happiness, and unlocked doors I never thought were possible, only for me to push it back into the depths of my comfort zone and publish something that took just minutes to write.

I went from writing over a hundred long-form posts in my first year to less than fifteen in my second. And as I approach my third year, that number dwindled to single digits. Here’s why.

Long-form writing and short-form writing are on completely different sides of the creation equation. One prioritizes depth and original thinking, while the other prioritizes clarity and cohesion. Thinking, researching, writing, and editing long forms require time and effort, whereas short forms can be published in an instant.

Even though I desperately wanted to become proficient at both, my feedback loop was so strong, each time I tried writing a long form, it rarely made it out of my drafts.

Once I made this distinction, I’d spend about a week understanding how I could bridge the gap between short and long-form writing. A year from now, all things considered, what’s one thing I could do to build a library of digital content and, above all, become a better writer?

Fortunately, within a few days, I came across two ideas that gave me all the clarity I needed.

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The Inspiration

First, I came across a quote from Stephen King. I’ve read it before, but this time it hit me like a bullet train.

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” — Stephen King

It isn’t revolutionary. But it made complete sense.

Most people, including myself, love the idea of writer, but only a few embody it—reading the classics, punching away at the keyboard for hours on end, especially when they don’t feel like it.

The second idea came to me while listening to a podcast by Ali Abdaal and Nathan Barry. Nathan talked about how he built his first business by simply pulling back the curtains, documenting the process in his blog, and, most importantly, developing a habit of writing a thousand words a day.

“Writing a thousand words a day has been the catalyst for everything good in my life.” — Nathan Barry

This, just like the first idea, isn’t revolutionary but made sense.

Volume was the answer, yet again.

In the podcast (which I highly recommend), Nathan also mentioned how this concept is simple but not easy. And that’s when everything really clicked.

It’s simple to say “just write a thousand words and you’ll become a better writer”. But it’s complex. It’s hard work. And it takes more time than you might imagine. Unless it’s important to you and you’re willing to make some element of sacrifice, it simply won’t work.

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The System

“Sounds great, but how are you going to do it?”*

This was the big question that ran circles through my mind. Writing a thousand words daily is as close as it gets to climbing Mount Everest—not just once but every single day.

Breaking away from my usual approach of thinking about all the reasons this wasn’t a good idea, this time, I brainstormed the potential roadblocks, framed them into solutions, and created a plan of action.

Step 1: Making time

If you crunch the numbers, the average person writes at about 8 words per minute. Technically, a 1000 words should take about 125 minutes, a little over two hours.

It’s a tough ask for most people. Life is busy. Things take time. What you need to think about is how badly you want it. Because if you really want it bad enough, you will find a way.

Is there a part of your routine that you could replace with writing? Could you watch one less episode of your favorite show? Could you wake up slightly earlier and carve out some time to write? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, you now have your sacred hours.

Step 2: Environment

Everyone has a place where they get their best work done. Personally, I enjoy a rotation between the library and my desk. In both cases, I have plenty of sunlight, good music, and of course, a lot of coffee.

Think about what your ideal environment looks like. It should fit seamlessly into other parts of your routine.

If your favorite spot is an hour away, pick something else. But if it’s on your way to work or school or just minutes away from home, congratulations—you’ve just located your new writing hub.

Step 3: SoftwaresI have to stress that you don’t need any fancy tools to write a thousand words. You just need to write. There’s no magic software that will write the words for you (unless you use AI, which completely defeats the purpose).

I’m (semi) old-fashioned. I love writing on Google Docs and Obsidian. But if you’re still curious, here are a few resources that may be better suited to you.

Ulysses is a popular choice by many published authors. 750 Words has a simple interface, progress tracking, and daily email reminders. Effie is great at brainstorming and outlining big ideas. Blank Page is another favorite, it's really easy to use and gets the job done.

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The Approach

Now, you know what needs to be done, your biggest obstacle, and when and where to write. So let’s address the obvious issue at hand.

“What the hell do I write about?”

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. What you write about is entirely your choice.

You can explore an idea that’s been on your mind for weeks or use a writing prompt to eliminate the blank page.

If you enjoy a particular writer’s style, you could simply write their content in your own words. This builds your own unique style and pattern recognition in the process. Soon enough, you’ll notice things you didn’t before while emulating the writers you admire most. Trust me, this method works—I’ve practiced it extensively when I first started.

You can apply the words in multiple different contexts too. For example, a potential business idea or a book you’ve always wanted to write but never found the time in either scenario. The more meaningful your project and purpose, the smoother your writing will flow.

When writing, do your best to ignore grammar and spelling. I know it’s difficult. I have a tendency to check every word and every sentence before progressing to the next. But that’s not the purpose here.

We’re looking beyond the minute details and focusing on the bigger picture.

It’s also best to target a few hundred words rather than a thousand for the first few days. This might sound counterproductive, but the purpose is simple: build momentum first and then work your way up.

Get comfortable with 100 or 200 words, and once you’re ready, push for four digits.

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The Purpose

The final question to address would be:

”Why on earth should I write 1000 words a day?”

This level of writing is not meant for everyone. But since you’re reading this, you may have a reason to take on the challenge. Your understanding of the “why” will expedite the “how”.

If you need some convincing, remember that writing has universal benefits.

Self-exploration. Clarity of thought. Content that works for you while you sleep. Opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. New revenue streams. Connecting with people who love what you have to say.

If you want any of these benefits, understand it will not happen overnight. You have to write consistently, and a lot more than you think. I say this from my experience writing over the past few years.

You can get paid to write only if your writing is worth paying for. Opportunities come from your work being discovered by the right person, at the right place, and at the right time.

To increase your luck, be prolific. Writing a thousand words daily is a powerful practice that can rapidly impact your ability to get everything you want and more from writing. This is why I’ve started this challenge, and I encourage you to do the same.

Just remember, not everything you write will be worth publishing. But that's okay. As you continue the process, you will find a reason to keep going. You will extract ideas you have never explored before. You will find projects to dedicate your words to. And if there’s one thing for certain, you will become a better writer.

Anyone can do this, but not everyone will.

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Thank you for reading this post. I hope this post gave you a few fresh approaches to tackling writer’s block. If you‘re an entrepreneur curious about writing online, do follow Pranav Gajria on X/Twitter.