A small writer confession.
You know what made it possible for me to actually finish books?
Not talent.
Not discipline.
Not some romantic “suffering artist” aesthetic.
Instant gratification.
We live in the era of Inkitt. Wattpad. Writing apps. Social media.
And people complain about it a lot.
But here’s the truth — it’s easier to become a writer now.
Not because writing is easier.
But because you’re not alone.
In the “old days,” unless you were someone like Arthur Conan Doyle publishing Sherlock Holmes in newspapers, you could write for years and never know if anyone cared. Maybe you’d get a letter. Maybe you’d wait months. Maybe years.
Now?
You publish a chapter and someone comments:
“OMG what happens next???”
“I love Mason.”
“Please don’t hurt them.”
And suddenly you’re not screaming into the void.
You’re building something with readers.
When I was younger, I wrote constantly. Entire worlds. Endless scenes.
Do you know how many full stories I completed?
One.
A short story for a contest I didn’t win.
Everything else? Half-finished. Abandoned. Forgotten in drawers.
Because there was no one waiting for the next chapter.
No one saying, “Good work. Keep going.”
Yes, I had friends willing to read. But showing your writing face-to-face is vulnerable in a different way. It’s heavy. It’s awkward. It’s not the same as strangers choosing to stay.
Then I tried publishing in Polish.
And I love my language — but it’s not dominant on those apps.
So I switched to English.
And in 1.5 years?
Four full novels.
Multiple short stories.
Ongoing series. (Yeah, they still need editing, but the story is finished, and it’s huge!)
Because now, when I post a chapter, someone reads it.
Even if I’m not huge.
Even if I’m not viral.
Even if I’m not “big.”
There is interaction. There is response. There is energy.
And that is fuel.
You don’t need to fight through years of editorial gates before reaching a single reader. You don’t need to wait for approval to begin building momentum.
You publish.
You connect.
You grow.
Instant gratification isn’t shallow.
For some of us, it’s the reason we finally finish.
So yes.
Thank you, modern writing era.
Thank you, readers.
Thank you for every comment that says “I need the next chapter.”