I Was Doing Everything Except Writing (And It Was Holding Me Back)

Becoming A Writer

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I Was Doing Everything Except Writing (And It Was Holding Me Back)

Episode 47 of Becoming A Writer podcast.

Rubina Gauri Gomes

Jun 27, 2026

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Show Notes -

Episode Summary:

In this episode, I reflect on my early attempt at building an audience through YouTube before becoming a writer. While the platform seemed like the logical path, I soon realized that creating videos drained my energy rather than fueling it. Through that experience, I discovered an important truth: I had become so distracted by everything surrounding Writing that I had stopped prioritizing the act of writing itself.

I share how returning to online writing through Medium and Substack helped me reconnect with my original dream of becoming a writer and taught me the importance of keeping the main thing the main thing.

Key Points Discussed:

Why building a YouTube channel felt misaligned despite good intentions.
The difference between enjoying the message and enjoying the medium.
How fear, overwhelm, and endless learning delayed her writing journey.
The distinction between being a writer and being an author.
Why writing should come before marketing, publishing, audience growth, and productivity systems.
How prioritizing writing led to more ideas, greater creative energy, and a stronger connection to her work.
The importance of treating writing like a real job rather than an optional activity.

Takeaways:

Your primary creative goal should guide your daily priorities.
Supporting tasks are valuable, but they should never replace the actual work.
Inspiration often appears after you begin, not before.
Protect your best energy for the work that matters most.
Identify what counts as writing for you and make it a non-negotiable priority.
No amount of planning, marketing, or preparation can replace putting words on the page.

The main thing is to keep Writing the main thing.