Writing Capital

Writing is mining for thoughts and ideas: the more we do it, the more we have. We just have to do it every day, and eventually, we’ll rest on a pile of gemstones.

Each paragraph is a precious stone that can be stored, reused, or transformed to perform a specific mission: words are a form of capital.

When you write every day in search of better ideas, you can expect them to accumulate and become a possible source of revenue: writing capital turns into career capital (rare and valuable skills people are willing to pay for), in the form of newsletters, blogs, books, or any other content form.

The best part is that, just like mining, it only takes a few tools to start: a pen and some paper. You just have to start digging. 

As the movie goes: if your guns aren’t already loaded, this world has no place for people who can’t dig. Developing a writing habit is one of the best investments you can make today, because it costs nothing, holds no risk whatsoever, and gives opportunities for great rewards.

By definition, capital is not something that’s desired for itself, but for its ability to produce other goods. This is especially true in the case of a writing habit: daily posts aren’t as valuable as the ideas they help you identify and the concepts they bring to life.

With more than 500 days of writings under my belt, I’m starting to have a pretty decent amount of writing capital. I used it to land my first freelance gig, connect with people, and draft a book. The next step is to use this capital to create new opportunities.