Winning the writing game

The art of writing for the long-term

Recently I saw a lot of medium writers here sharing their journey on both Medium and Substack.

They also shared their achievements in Substack.

Within a month or two, their subscribers were already a couple of hundreds.

Some red fog entered my brain upon seeing that.

I was jealous!

Luckily the red fog cleared quickly

I could’ve gone down the route of self-pity.

They are big writers, of course they will grow fast.

And I’m just a little nobody here in Substack.

A new participant to the game.

Self-pity aside, I realize that writing is a long term game.

Taking the big writers as an example, they have been playing for a long time.

• They had a headstart.

• They had built up their systems and routines.

• They had established a community and network.

When I started writing, it felt like a race.

Chasing the next viral post, the quick likes, the immediate uptick in subscribers.

Two months here on Substack, I’ve come to realize:

Writing is not a race

It’s a game where participants show up, practice and take part in tournaments.

Every activity you do matters.

But if you’re only in it for the short-term wins, you’re setting yourself up to burn out.

I’ve been there.

My early days were spent constantly checking the stats page.

I would jump for joy and pump my fist in the air whenever there’s a new subscriber or follower.

For the record, I still jump for joy and my neighbour downstairs could probably feel the vibrations.

But as the graph plateaued, I put these questions to myself.

Now I’m putting them to you.

Are you constantly refreshing the page to see if anyone had read what you poured your heart into.

Are you looking for validation through likes and subscriber count?

Are you exhausted and frustrated when you are not seeing results?

If you said yes, yes and yes, stop your tracks right now.

Don’t play the wrong game

It isn’t about hitting it big overnight.

It’s not about getting how many views or likes.

It’s about playing for the long-term, building something that lasts.

Here’s the problem.

We’re wired for quick wins.

We crave that dopamine hit when a post takes off, but what happens when it doesn’t?

Most people give up, thinking they’re not cut out for this.

And then there’s the constant comparison.

You see other writers making waves, landing book deals, going viral.

You start to think, “Why not me?”

But what you don’t see are the years they spent in the trenches, writing day after day without any recognition.

This obsession with short-term success is a trap

It leads to burnout and frustration.

You may be a promising writer, but you may also be throwing in the towel way too soon.

So let’s flip the script.

Instead of thinking about what you can achieve in the next week or month, think about what you want to build in the next year, the next five years.

The writers who make it?

They understand that writing is a marathon.

They know that the goal isn’t just to score a few quick wins but to create a body of work that stands the test of time.

It’s about mastery, about honing your craft until you’re undeniably good.

When you shift to a long-term mindset, everything changes.

You start to see your writing as a journey, not a destination.

You stop chasing trends and start focusing on what really matters.

• Improving with every word you write

• Connecting deeply with your audience

• Building something meaningful

Now, let’s talk about how you can start playing the long game in your writing.

Here’s your action plan:

1. Set Long-Term Goals

Forget about going viral next week.

What do you want to achieve in the next 3 months? 1 year? How about five years?

When you think long term, you’re wiring up your brain differently.

You’re not constantly chasing that dophamine high.

Instead, you’re signaling to yourself.

This is what I foresee in the future.

This is who I want to be.

Set goals that challenge you but also give you something to strive for.

Whether it’s writing every day, building your community, or simply becoming a better writer, write those goals down and keep them front and center.

2. Consistency Over Intensity

Consistency beats intensity every time.

Commit to a writing schedule that you can stick to.

It doesn’t have to be crazy—just something you can do day in and day out.

Over time, those small, consistent efforts compound into something significant.

For example, I jumped into a 1,000 words a day writing challenge in August.

I was really hesitant to join because at that time, I was new, I had no content strategy, I think I can’t write that much every day.

Now the challenge is over, I’m really pleased with the result.

I realized: not every day is a 1,000 word day, but every day is a writing day.

Write, write every day, that’s what matters.

3. Embrace the Process

Fall in love with the journey.

The early mornings or late nights, the rewrites, the drafts that never see the light of day, they’re all part of the process.

Every word you write, even the ones you are not satisfied with, is a step forward.

You must have fun with what you’re doing.

By nature, I’m somewhat obsessed and can sometimes go crazy with what I do.

But that obsession, that craziness is what make what I’m doing enjoyable.

Find joy in what you’re writing.

A spark of passion goes a long way towards sustainability.

4. Build Resilience

The road is long, and there will be setbacks.

Learn to bounce back.

Track your progress, celebrate the small wins, and keep a growth mindset.

Treat every setback as a setup for a comeback.

As writers, we are thinkers, action takers and influencers.

If we ourselves don’t have resilience, how can we expect to have an impact on others.

Everything starts from ourselves.

Be the first mover, the leader, the one that shines the light on the path ahead.

4. Connect with a Community

Writing can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be.

Find your tribe.

It could be a writing group, an online community, or just a few trusted friends who get it.

They’ll keep you grounded, motivated, and most importantly, remind you that you’re not alone.

During difficult times, through thick and thin, your community will buoy you up.

I always believe two brains are better than one.

When I run out of ideas, I look at my community.

There are so many talented and smart people around.

You just have to get pointers from them or read their struggles.

And you’ll have companions for your journey.

Writing is not who can sprint the fastest

It’s about who has the endurance to keep going, to keep improving, to keep writing even when it feels like no one’s watching.

Commit to the long game.

Start setting those long-term goals, build that consistency, embrace the journey and connect with your community.

Every word you write, every draft you finish, brings you closer to where you want to be.

This isn’t easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.

So dig in, stay focused, and your best work is yet to come.

Keep pushing, keep writing, and play the long game.

That’s how you win.

Thanks for reading.

Keen on just writing this September? Let’s build a writing community together.