What Have I Learned?

When I first started writing, I honestly knew nothing.  I didn’t know what in the world I was doing.  I was simply given a laptop, and I planned to type up a little story - just for fun.  I didn’t do any prep.  I didn’t have a plot.  I didn’t even have spell check (scary, I know).  And then I decided I wanted to publish said story.

(Somehow.)

I didn't research things.

I just wrote.

Eight years later, I like to think I’ve gotten a little bit better.  I don’t just wing my stories.  I have a decent word processor (with spell check!!).  I even have (slightly more) realistic plans of publishing.

So how have I grown as a writer?  Let me count the ways...

I start a new paragraph every time a character talks (and, as a bonus, when the subject changes!)

I no longer have people with guns randomly showing up in a fantasy novel (please don't ask)

My characters act their age (because when I was 12, a 17 year old was old and very much an adult)(now that I'm 21, I think 17 year olds are practically children)

No longer are the characters copies of myself and my friends

There is actually decent worldbuilding (or at least attempts at it)

I start each story knowing, more or less, where it is going to go

I actually finish stories I start (mostly because of the above point)

I know what steps needs to be taken to actually get published (or at least, more than I knew when I first dreamed of it)(thanks to GTW)

There is a larger variety of characters (not just a girl trying to prove she’s better than boys, and the guy with anger issues) and an even greater variety of weapons (cause not everyone uses a sword, y'all)

I know for certain that I have no clue what I’m doing (and thus am constantly learning)

What have you all learned after writing for a while (be it years, or just weeks)?