For the next 30 days, I will write and publish one short essay per day. Say hello to Ship 30 for 30. Let me explain why and what I expect to get out of it.

To become better at something—anything—you need to practice. But first you need to know your why.

Here are my personal 5 reasons.

Writing is thinking

Putting your thoughts on digital paper is the best way to find out what your thoughts actually mean.

Keeping your thoughts in your head quickly leads to overthinking. Writing them down gives you a way to look at your thoughts with a fresh perspective.

Craft a system that works (for you)

People are creatures of habit. To create a habit of writing, you need to find out what works for you.

Committing to writing for 30 days will help you refine the best way you can do your writing. Is it in the morning or evening? How to fit it into your busy family life? Which tools to use?

Picking one specific time, place and tool will remove the most important resistance. Now it's a matter of showing up and do the work.

Become a faster writer

Because it will give you time

The quicker you can get your ideas out there, the quicker you can get feedback. This will improve your idea and the way you communicate your ideas.

We need writing everywhere

Especially in a remote-first world that works asynchronously

The more clear and concise your written communication is, the more time you have to spend on other meaningful things. Writing is everywhere: emails, Slack messages, documentation material, memo's.

While your message is being reviewed by hundreds of others, you can go for a run or play with your kids.

Say goodbye to endless Zoom meetings.

Overcoming perfectionism

Done is better than perfect.

I have so many ideas for blog posts, papers, maybe a book. These massive tasks all start with a couple of words per day. These short essays will train my writing muscle and can act as building blocks for the bigger things I intend to write.

I hope one of my reasons for writing daily also resonates with you.

Now write one sentence about what you have learned.

Keep doing that and you are a writer.