Three Years Of Storytelling...

July 1, 2017. 

Launchora turned three today. This community, full of young and brilliant minds from all over the world, has been my life's most treasured and wonderful achievement, and I have you to thank for it. This place is my home. Thank you for giving us your stories, and your love. Thank you for making Launchora your home.

On July 1, 2014, we made Launchora a public platform. Back then, the 'we' was just me and a laptop. The only stories on the platform were either written by me or my family and friends. I had no idea if anyone would even like what I was trying to do. I waited and stared at my laptop screen, and it took about 12 hours before someone (who I didn't know) published a story. It was a short one, probably about 200 words. Today, our community writes 200 words - across our website and app - every minute.

This past year was our best yet. Just in the past 6 months, i.e., the first half of 2017, we've brought you community experiences like The Bar, The Garage, Direct Messages (app users, I promise you we're working on bringing messages to the app asap!), several new Playground adventures (Poetry Wars is back today so do check that out!) and The Storyteller (we're making the subscription free for all launchers under 18, more on this soon!).

Here's a mind-humbling fact: in these last 6 months, you and this community have published more than double the amount of stories that were published on Launchora in the entire 2.5 years before it. Double! Here's another crazy fact: we have so many stories on Launchora, that if you tried to read all of them one by one, you physically (and mathematically) will never be able to read all of them. Don't believe me? Try it, I dare you (please read responsibly).

Even though we're much, much bigger now - thanks to you - some things haven't changed. One of them is why I started Launchora. Even back then, all I really wanted was to make a place where you can be heard. Where you can be understood. Where you feel safe. A community of people like you. People who listen, provide validation for what you're feeling, empathize with you, and give you positive and constructive feedback. A true community of storytellers.

By the time a child turns three, most of them are just getting used to speaking a language, forming full sentences, learning and understanding complicated speech patterns and gestures. They are starting to communicate with their family, make friends, be understood, express themselves, and form their own individual voice. It's a major step towards their journey into becoming a person. The end of their infancy, and the beginning of their childhood. The same goes for this wonderful community I call home. We're only three years old, but we've found our voice. We're just getting started on this journey, and we have a lot, lot more to say.

Studies have shown that millennials (people born between 1982 to 2000) are the loneliest generation, but also the most creative. I'm a millennial. And if it wasn't for this community, I would probably be the type of millennial these studies talk about. Creativity is not just a calling or a talent, it's a desire to share what you feel, a form of pure self-expression, where you take in your surroundings and interpret and transform it into something else. Everyone has a creative side. No matter where you're from, you have something in common with each other. Your creativity is that something. Sharing a story or an experience is not just about letting it out; it's an essential part of the human experience. Stories connect us. You never know what effect your story can have on someone unless you share it. Because studies have also shown that positivity is more contagious than negativity. And this Internet thing, can spread positivity like a wildfire.

So as head into this fourth year as a community, and continue on this journey as storytellers, let's try to do just one simple thing. Our own small little contribution to this world.

Whether it's by writing or sharing, whether it's for us or strangers - let's make this world feel a little less lonely.

Thank you. And happy birthday, Launchora!

P.s. I started Launchora on my dad's birthday, because this is the gift that keeps on giving. He started writing two years ago, has consistently published one story per week, and is still unbeaten as the storyteller with the most published stories on Launchora. If anyone wants to give him competition, he's ready for the challenge. Happy birthday, dad!

Here's a bonus post script: this is my 50th published story! Which is an okay achievement since that only gives me a one story per month average. I'll try to be faster with the next 50.