The More I Write

The less I want to buy stuff

Last November I began a “no-spend year” challenge. This was a big trend last year, and everyone had their own rules for what they could and couldn’t purchase.

My list of “off-limits” items were:

Books (even on Kindle. Very scary.)

Clothes/shoes/accessories (most of my previous purchases)

Make-up (including — gasp — false eyelashes)

Home decòr (whatever)

Fancy skin-care products (I’m obsessed)

Take-out coffee and drive-thru lunches (ouch)

Plastic sandwich bags (I care about the environment, peeps!)

I could still buy food, gifts, supplements, cleaning supplies, and replace essentials if I ran out of them or if they wore out.

Why do shoes have to last so long?

I thought it was going to be hard, but it wasn’t that bad. It got easier as each week went by. Also, I like doing challenges, and I had blabbed to my friends about it, so I wanted them to see I was sticking to it.

I would stand to the side and feel smug when we went shopping, not buying anything, but also not wanting to be left out of activities.

Then, a pandemic happened.

At first, I stuck to my guns. I wasn’t going to buy things just because I was sheltered inside. If anything, I was glad I couldn’t visit clothing stores, and even stayed away from the supermarket. My husband didn’t mind going.

After two months of doing home workouts, though, I decided that I absolutely needed a step bench, so I could do my Body Pump classes (which I had been doing at the gym for 14 years) more effectively. I was fine to work out at home, but proper equipment was a must!

It all fell apart after that.

A few days later, I threw in the towel, deciding that I sucked at my challenge.

I began to justify more and more purchases:

A new version of the Taboo Game (Charlie and I need entertainment! Playing board games is creating a stronger bond between us!)

LED window curtain lights (Our home needs to look good! I stare at it all day.)

A cake server with a lid (I’m baking a lot, and, look! It’s got a handle so I could take it places, even though I’m not going anywhere. And it’s cute.)

Rechargeable decorative bike lights (A must-have for my nighttime bike rides; I’m sure everyone needs these, especially middle-aged adults)

Luxardo Gourmet Maraschino Cherries (I mean, have you had these? Then you understand.)

Assorted Japanese Candy box (?????)

Plastic sandwich bags (Seriously? Those greasy silicone bags with the plastic bars that you have to use every ounce of your body pump strength to close that last half inch…)

But eventually, something began to change, and I stopped filling my Amazon cart. I didn’t even notice at first. I was busy writing.

In the past few weeks, I started to get serious about my writing output. I watched Ayodeji Awosika’s YouTube videos, and read his blog on Medium.

He claimed that the more you wrote, the more ideas you would have.

I didn’t believe him.

Yeah, that works for you, maybe. You’re young and hip and smart and creative. I’m just a part-time English teacher with no cats. What can I write about?

But I took his advice, when he said to jot down ten possible writing topics every day. I did this for three days, and then just started writing. The articles just kept coming.

I’d be in the shower, wishing my phone was waterproof, so I could take notes.

After working on one story for three hours, I needed a break, so I went for a walk. On my walk, I had three new article ideas.

Now, I’m not saying these articles “went viral”, or even “went anywhere.”

To quote Colin Firth (A.K.A. Jamie) in Love Actually: “This isn’t bloody Shakespeare!”

But I finally learned that I needed to add to publications, not just publish under my own (fabulous and famous) name.

In two years of writing on Medium, I had about ten followers and three claps. Of course, I was submitting an article every other month, hoping I would be “discovered.” I finally joined the Partner Program about a year ago, but still was not very motivated to post.

After two weeks of submitting consistently to publications, I now have 159 followers and WAY more than three claps! I’ve made over $2.00 this month!

Okay, I know. But still.

Ayodeji said that you need to be consistent. Keep submitting, at least three times a week. Unless you’re already well-known, it may take years.

But I’m in this for the long haul. I’m not quitting my day job any time soon. I just love to write.

It’s keeping me sane.

I get into a flow and hours go by in minutes.

My Amazon cart is currently empty.

Challenge accepted (Again).