writing while working

When a Short Hits 1K Views and You’re Still in Your Dressing Gown

/ Author Simon Phillips / Leave a comment

I didn’t expect much when I first uploaded my fantasy Shorts.

Just a voiceover, a few images, thirty to sixty seconds of lore. No ad spend. No magic keywords. Just a story that had been sitting in my head for far too long, finally pushed out into the world.

The first one hit 90 views. Then 110. I refreshed. Twice.

The second barely passed 70. Still, I kept going.

And then, one evening, after a long day juggling work, family, and dinner with a toddler clinging to my leg, I checked YouTube and saw it:
1,037 views.

A thousand strangers had watched a slice of the world I’m building. A kingdom I drew in the dark. A name I’d whispered into existence over five rewrites.

It’s easy to dismiss it. “It’s just a number,” I told myself. “People scroll past everything.”

But the truth is, for authors like me, especially those of us self-building from scratch, every view is a flicker of proof. That the story matters. That someone, somewhere, paused to listen.

There were no fireworks. No subscriber spike. Just a moment. One I’ll quietly remember as the night I sat in my dressing gown, tea in hand, and realised…

This is working.

I’m still writing. Still shaping this novel. Still creating. And slowly, view by view, line by line, I’m getting it out there.

One Small Win That Kept Me Going A Comment That Changed My Day

/ Author Simon Phillips / Leave a comment

There’s a strange kind of silence that follows uploading something into the void.

You spend days crafting a video or refining a chapter. You rewrite a line fourteen times until it stops sounding like bad theatre. You export, upload, tweak the thumbnail, write a caption that doesn’t sound desperate, and finally, finally, you press “Publish.”

And then… nothing.

At least, not right away. Maybe a view or two trickles in. A quiet like. You start questioning everything, your voice, your tone, your hair in that shot, whether this story was worth the time it took to write.

But then it happens. Someone, somewhere, leaves a comment that says:

“I want to read this.”

Five words. That’s it. No in-depth critique, no elaborate praise. Just a quiet little statement from a stranger who paused long enough to want more.

And that changed my entire day.

Not because it went viral. Not because I gained a hundred new followers or sold a book. But because it reminded me that the story I’m telling, the one I’ve dragged through sleepless nights, multiple rewrites, and far too many cups of tea, is reaching someone.

That’s the win.

It’s easy to talk about milestones and big launches. But for many writers, especially those still building something from the ground up, it’s the small, often invisible victories that keep the wheels turning.

So if you’re out there, watching someone’s book video or reading a blog post about a novel that hasn’t even launched yet, don’t underestimate what a simple comment can do.

To whoever left that message: thank you. You may not remember it, but I do.

Writing While Working Two Jobs: Why I Still Do It

/ Author Simon Phillips / Leave a comment

People often ask me how I find the time to write while working two jobs. The short answer is: I don’t. Not really. Not the way I wish I could. But I do write, every week, sometimes every day, usually when I should be resting. And despite the exhaustion, the long nights, the early mornings, and the occasional doubt, I keep going. Because the story matters.

The Chaos Behind the Chapters

Right now, my life is split between running a small school, working night shifts, and squeezing in writing during stolen hours. Most days, I get by on sheer routine. Coffee helps. So does knowing that every chapter I finish brings me one step closer to the book I’ve dreamed of releasing for years: The Veil of Kings and Gods.

I’m not writing from a cabin in the woods or some serene studio. I’m writing at school, on the dinning room table, between shifts, and late into the night when everything else is quiet. This novel is being built between real life’s demands and that, in a strange way, makes it even more personal.

Why Not Wait?

It would be easy to say, “I’ll write when life slows down.” But the truth is, life might not. And if I wait for the perfect time, I might never finish the story I’ve already poured so much of myself into.

So instead, I chip away. One scene, one chapter, one revision at a time. And you know what? That consistency adds up. Even if I’m tired. Even if I sometimes question whether it’s worth it.

The Deeper Reason

I write because I love this world I’ve created. I believe in the characters. Simion, Elana, the fractured kingdoms of Ældorra, they’ve stayed with me through everything. And if they’ve stayed with me, maybe they’ll stay with readers too.

Writing gives me a sense of purpose beyond the day-to-day. It’s a reminder that I’m building something for myself, something that might one day outlive the jobs, the side gigs, and even the fatigue.

If You’re in the Same Boat

To anyone reading this who’s also juggling too much while trying to create something: keep going. Your work is valid, even if it’s slow. Even if it’s messy. Even if no one sees it yet. Just showing up matters.

What’s Next?

I’ve just finished proofreading and editing three more chapters, and it’s starting to feel real. I’ll be sharing more about the process and the book itself, both here and on my YouTube channel soon. If you’re curious about how a fantasy novel gets written under pressure (and often after midnight), subscribe or follow along.

Until then, thank you for reading, and thank you for letting me share this chaotic, hopeful journey.