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I had to restart during the Pandemic:  Here’s How Writing Became My Way Forward

From suspended work to broken tools — how I turned uncertainty into a new path through words.

In 2020, when the world was shutting down, so was my income.

I had been working with a company that, like many others, couldn’t survive the economic stillness of the COVID-19 lockdown. They suspended our contracts, not out of malice, but survival. Products weren’t moving, sales were flat, and paying staff had become a luxury.

Suddenly, I found myself at home, no salary, no structure, just uncertainty and too much silence. However, I wasn’t completely empty-handed.

1. I Had Nothing Stable, Except My Words

Before the pandemic, I had already begun exploring my passion for writing children’s picture books. My goal was simple: publish stories that touched young minds and wait for publishers to buy them.

But waiting became too long. When the pandemic hit, I realized maybe I didn’t need to wait. I owned a laptop that barely worked, it would shut off on its own, sometimes in the middle of writing. I had to type while saving every 30 seconds, constantly praying it wouldn’t crash. But I kept going.

“Sometimes, your breakthrough hides behind what frustrates you most.”

2. The Internet Became My Classroom and My Window

With no publisher knocking, I turned to the one place still open- the internet. I searched for phrases like "how to earn from writing," "how to publish your own blog," and "writing platforms that pay."

What I discovered changed everything:

• I didn’t need to wait for permission.
• I didn’t need to pay upfront.
• I just needed to show up with my words, consistently.

I began to learn about blogging, content writing, and affiliate marketing, and realized that writing wasn’t just a passion; it could be a path.

3. Growth Doesn’t Shout: It Learns to Whisper First

I didn’t go viral.
I didn’t earn $1,000 in a week.
But I kept writing.

At first, it was just short reflections — personal growth, entrepreneurial ideas, African stories with meaning. I posted quietly. Some people read; some didn’t. But I realized growth wasn’t loud; it was in the repetition:

• Writing in silence
• Publishing without applause
• Learning through trial and error

This wasn’t failure. It was foundation.

4. My African Story Wasn’t a Limitation, It Was My Power

At one point, I questioned myself:
“Who wants to hear about someone like me?”
“Another writer from Rwanda — will my voice even matter?”

But I leaned into it.
I began telling the honest truth — what it felt like to lose work, how I built new habits in quiet days, and why our stories in Africa are just as relevant as anyone else’s.

And that’s when people began to respond.
Because stories rooted in real life always find a place to land.

5. I Still Don’t Have It All, But I Have Direction

I’m not done yet. I haven’t reached all my goals.
But now I’m building something with my voice, my lessons, and my patience.
I’m creating content. I’m planning my blog.
I’m sharing thoughts on growth, entrepreneurship and African resilience, and people are listening.
Not millions. But enough to matter. Enough to keep going.

Final Thoughts

If you’re stuck, if your tools are broken, if your path seems blurry please  start with what you have.

• You don’t need a perfect machine to write.
  
  
  
• You don’t need a crowd to begin.
• You just need the courage to create consistently — even in uncertainty.

Your voice matters.
Your story matters.
And someone out there is waiting to hear it.

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I’m Marc — a passionate writer sharing stories on growth, entrepreneurship, and African resilience. Follow me for more human, practical lessons from the journey.