December 23, 2024
30in30, women-in-tech, writing
On November 4th, 2024, I embarked on an experiment—30in30: I committed to writing for 30 minutes each workday for 30 working days and publishing my articles on my website. This was a big deal for me; while I'm a prolific note-taker, I'm also a scaredy cat when it comes to sharing my work publicly. This challenge was designed to change that. By limiting the time I allowed myself to write, I aimed to bypass overthinking and procrastination—no extensive research, no endless second-guessing.
The primary goal was simple: write, publish, and keep going. The secondary goal was discovering my voice and what I genuinely enjoy writing about.
I completed the entire six weeks, missing only one day due to a migraine. That means I ended up with 29 posts throughout the challenge.
I didn't plan or research much; instead, I relied on what I already knew. Occasionally, I used Google to check statistics or learn more about someone I was writing about, but that was the extent of my preparation.
During this challenge, my audience on Bluesky grew significantly. I started with 128 followers and ended with 2,293—an incredible leap. This growth was mainly due to engaging with the community and focusing on that platform. In contrast, my Twitter activity dwindled. I posted there only three times, and my follower count dropped slightly from 4,327 to 4,292. My newsletter subscriber count, however, remained unchanged.
(P.S. If you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter!)
My articles covered a mix of topics: personal reflections, stories about women in tech, and general musings on writing. A common thread was that I didn't know what I would write about until I sat down to do it. Sometimes, an idea struck me earlier in the day—a quote from a book or a name I came across—but none of the articles were planned. I simply wrote about what felt right in the moment.
I love writing.
Writing helps me clarify my thoughts and emotions. As I said in one of the articles, writing helps me go horizontal; it helps me figure out what I really think or feel about something. It feels like tapping into my unconscious mind, especially when I write freely without overthinking. Often, I surprised myself with what I ended up putting into words. This made the challenge rather fun—each day felt like a new discovery:
What will I learn about today?
I love writing about inspiring people.
I draw a lot from role models—people who motivate and comfort me in this crazy journey called life. These role models don't have to be groundbreaking scientists or wildly successful people; they just need to be relatable in some way. I enjoy looking beyond the familiar narratives of their lives to find something meaningful and personal.
I especially enjoyed writing about women.
Elena Cornaro Piscopia, Mary Somerville, Mary Shelley, Ada Lovelace, Virginia Woolf, Theodora Kroeber, Margaret Masterman, Mary Kenneth Keller, Dame Stephanie Shirley, Maya Angelou, Sylvia Plath, Karen Spärk Jones, Ellen Langer, and Elizabeth Gilbert.
Some articles featured women briefly, while others were entirely dedicated to them, but my research into their stories was extensive regardless. It feels like I gained so many friends, so many role models, so many beacons of light and hope I can turn to when the going gets tough.
I plan to continue writing both short and long-form articles. I'm excited to dive deeper into topics or individuals beyond the constraints of a time limit. At the same time, I'll keep writing those raw, barely researched streams of consciousness because they've taught me the most.
I'll keep publishing even when I'm not entirely happy with the piece. Just because it isn't perfect doesn't mean it shouldn't be shared.
I've also decided to delve into the topic of women in leadership. To that end, I've enrolled in an online course from the University of Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership. I want to learn how to drive change and help shape the future in my own way. I'm confident this course will help me make a bigger impact through Larabelles and take the community further.
This challenge has been life-changing. I had no idea where it would lead me when I started, but here I am—going with the flow, writing, and learning. I'm excited to see where this journey takes me, and I am committed to sharing it with all of you.
What will I learn about next?
Let's see, shall we?