I’ve Written 45,000 Words And Counting!
Guys, I can’t believe I’m doing it!
Because I’m not a YouTuber — and because I’m afraid of the camera — I’m sort of making a record of my novel progress here on Medium without putting it behind a paywall. So, congratulate me, because I’ve written 45,000 words of my novel and I’m SO excited and proud of myself!
If you’ve been following this journey (which you probably haven’t been) you would know that I owe all this progress to deleting my phone apps.
I’ve been filling the time I would have normally spent watching Netflix or binging YouTube Shorts with writing my novel!
It might sound drastic, but getting rid of distractions like Netflix and YouTube Shorts has completely transformed my writing routine.
(I’m even thinking of starting a “No Apps” cult. Let’s all delete our apps together!)
Every time I found myself reaching for my phone out of habit, I turned that urge into a cue to open my laptop and write instead. Little by little, word by word, I’ve filled the time I used to spend mindlessly scrolling with something meaningful — my novel.
Here’s Why This Matters:
For the longest time, I struggled with the idea that I didn’t have what it took to finish a book.
Because, let me tell you, I have dozens of half-finished novels, short stories, and even poems in my Google Docs folders. I even have a novel I wrote when I was 15 years old that tapped out at about 55,000 words that I never got past the finish line… Why do I do this??
I’d always tell myself I was too busy or too tired, that I’d keep going tomorrow or the next day. But tomorrow never came because I was filling my days with distractions that left me drained and uninspired.
Deleting those apps was a leap of faith. It meant confronting how much time I was wasting and making a commitment to something I’ve always wanted to do.
And you know what? It’s working.
The words are flowing, and every day I’m inching closer to finishing this novel that’s been sitting in my heart for so long.
You Can Do It Too!
If you’re reading this and you’re feeling stuck, or you’re telling yourself you’ll start writing “someday,” I want you to know that someday can be today.
I’m not a full-time novelist, but I made a decision to prioritize my dream, and it’s paying off in ways I never imagined.
It doesn’t have to be about writing a novel. Whatever your passion is, whatever that thing is that you’ve been putting off — make time for it.
Even if it’s just a few minutes a day, even if you have to make some sacrifices. The feeling of seeing your progress, of doing something you’ve always wanted to do, is worth it.
Keep Going!!
Reaching 45,000 words is amazing, but I know there’s still a long way to go.
The road ahead might be tough, and I’m sure there will be days when I feel like giving up. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that every word counts, every small step forward is progress!
So, if you’ve been following this journey or if you’ve just stumbled upon this post, I hope it encourages you to keep going, to take that first step or that next step, and to believe in yourself. You’re capable of so much more than you realize, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes both of us.
Here’s to the next 45,000 words — and beyond!
(I’ll keep you guys updated!)
Hey! Before you go:
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