Happy Friday :)

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately…

Why do so many people give up after just a few days when starting a new hobby?

It doesn’t matter if it’s calligraphy, watercolor, or even baking bread—
the pattern is almost always the same:

⚡ Excitement at the start
⚡ A few days of practice
⚡ Then it fizzles out

And most people walk away thinking:

“I’m lazy.”
“I don’t have enough discipline.”
“I guess I just wasn’t born for this.”

But that’s not true.

The real reason is simpler:
Most beginners never get the chance to fall in love with the hobby in the first place.

Because instead of joy, they start with technique.

Take calligraphy.

You buy a pen and a workbook.
You copy the drills.
And within minutes, you’re worrying about pen angles, nib pressure, line thickness.

Suddenly, something that could feel calming and creative…
starts to feel stiff, mechanical.

Like homework.

That’s why so many people quit.

It’s not laziness—it’s the wrong focus at the beginning.

Which is why I tell my students something simple:

Fun first, skills later.

Forget “doing it right.” Just pick up a pen that feels good in your hand.
Write anything—your name, a doodle, loops across the page.
Pay attention to how it feels. The smooth glide of ink. The calm in your body.

That feeling is what keeps you coming back.

And when you keep coming back… you build a habit.
And that habit is what leads to skill.

Because here’s the truth:
Talent doesn’t create lasting joy. Discipline doesn’t, either.
Only habit does.
Once calligraphy becomes part of your daily rhythm, it’s no longer something you “try”—
it’s simply something you do.

So how do you turn that good feeling into a habit?

✔ Join a challenge—pick 7 days, 21 days, even 66 days.
✔ Share your progress with a close friend, family, or fellow calligraphy lovers.
✔ Feeling bold? Share it publicly!
✔ Keep it quick: 5–10 minutes a day. Focus on joy, not perfection.

I actually gave more details on this in yesterday’s email—so if you missed it, I recommend going back and giving it a read.

Now—why am I telling you all this today?

Because next Monday, October 6, I’ll be starting something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.

A brand new Patreon community, centered around a weekly lettering challenge designed to help beginners fall in love with calligraphy the joyful way.

Every day, you’ll get a meaningful quote to write.
Not only for tracing, but also a custom letter design you can color—so you don’t just write words, you get to play with them. You can take a peek at a few sample pages in the images below.

I’ll share more details soon.

But for now, just remember this: if you’ve ever quit a hobby before, it’s not because you’re lazy. You simply didn’t get the chance to enjoy it first.

This time, let’s flip the script.

Warmly,
Nhuan

P.S. I’m curious… when the Patreon lettering challenge opens next Monday—are you willing to join me?

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