Italian writer Elena Ferrante took on a unique challenge when she agreed to write weekly columns for The Guardian over the course of a year.

Known for her meticulous prose and extensive revisions, Ferrante found the constant deadlines daunting.

However, this exercise seems to have brought out a raw, authentic, and personal side to her writing. The stories, reflections, and anecdotes she shares feel genuine and direct.

While not all of the columns managed to hold my attention, and some references to local Italian situations may have lost their relevance, I still found value in this writing experiment. It inspired me to write more frequently and to avoid overthinking my work.