Note from 50-Year-Old Writer Me to 15-Year-Old Want-to-be-a-Writer Me

To my 15-year-old self,

Write every day. That's it. That's my advice to you.

Don't wait until a better day, a better time. Don't wait until the day when you think you have enough experience to write. Or until inspiration takes you over. Just start writing.

Don't give a care to who will read it, who might like it, and certainly, certainly not who will buy it. The money may come, or may not, but this isn't about a career. It may become one, but it's not about that, at its core.

Your writing is about you. Your writing is about understanding yourself, and your place in the world. By writing every day, you're building the invaluable practice of discipline, and you're doing one small thing to serve that insatiable curiosity of yours. It's a healthy habit for you to meander through your thoughts about the meaning of things, the unfairness you witness in life, the wonder you have about the size of the universe, the love you have for so many, the hatred you have for some.

Write every day. Start now. Forget about the number of words. Forget about limits or constraints or any other metric. The metric is the daily word. Doesn't have to be a lot. Two words might be enough on some days. Other days you may find yourself writing all morning.  Soon, when you pick up the guitar in college, you'll be writing songs.

But start your daily practice now. Don't wait for some artificial qualifying event. Don't wait for anything. Start now. Write. Every day. 

You will miss a day here and there. Maybe a lot sometimes. You may go stretches where you forget about it, or at least try to. But remind yourself, and believe in your ability to do this as a daily practice. Forgive yourself when you don't. And begin again.

There is so much more to the practice of writing than you think. So trust me. Take this on. Gently, and persistently. 

Write every day. 

Graciously,

Your 50-year-old self