Writing can be tough. Staring at the blinking cursor on a blank page can be completely debilitating. When it comes to writing, it’s down to you, the author, and your own imagination and ideas. You alone are solely responsible for getting ideas from your mind to the reader.
Here are some reasons why people just like you don’t get their books finished. But here’s also how you are going to overcome these difficulties! Let me know in the comments what you struggle with most. Is it one of these or something else?
1. Life gets in the way
Life can be busy. There’s always something that needs doing – the laundry, the washing up, hanging up that picture. It’s easy to make excuses to yourself why writing can take a backseat.
Regular check-ins with me on my accountability programme will give you the impetus to get your writing done and to carve out time to get writing.
2. Not enough time
Like number one, setting aside some time in your busy day might be difficult. But even finding five minutes is possible and that’s enough time to write.
Together, we can look at finding time in your schedule where you can write.
3. Overwhelmed
The idea of going from a blank page to a fully formed manuscript can feel overwhelming. How do you get from zero to tens of thousands of words? Well, in the same way that you tackle any task, we break it down into manageable chunks.
Each time we meet, we’ll work out which chunk you want to tackle next. When we reconvene, we’ll assess your progress and make decisions about the next chunk.
4. Self-doubt creeps in
Imposter syndrome sucks. Without reason, it really does destroy our self-confidence and means that every word we type feels like it’s wrong. But that’s simply not the case.
Having a supporter by your side can really help your confidence and push that imposter syndrome aside.
5. No plan
You may be a complete planner, or you might write by the seat of your pants. And while pantsing might work for you, a rough outline can still be useful. Knowing what you want to achieve each week is a useful starting point, even if you don’t end up there!
As your accountability partner, we’ll discuss your goals for the coming week and give you a plan, with goals to achieve in the short, medium and long term.
6. Perfectionism
Thinking you have to have the perfect manuscript can stop you from making progress. Writing a chapter and then editing and proofreading it is one of the biggest wastes of time and can present a real stumbling block to making progress with your book.
By having someone who you are accountable to keeps you on track and making real and significant progress with your book.
7. Unclear next steps
If you’re unclear on the next steps, you’re unlikely to take them. That can mean you don’t finish writing your book or, worse, you don’t do anything with the completed manuscript.
I can guide you through the process, from writing to editing, when you want to self-publish or find a traditional publisher to work with. Don’t let an unclear path stop you.
8. Feedback paralysis
Everyone has an opinion. And, when you show your writing to people, they’ll want to tell you that opinion. Sometimes, that is altered by the relationship you have with that person. Picking what to listen to and what to ignore can be tough. If you listened to everyone, you’d never write your book!
I’ll guide you through feedback, offering you impartial advice and unpicking the feedback you’ve received so that you know what will help you and what you can ignore.
9. Fatigue
As creative people, we need to be careful of burning out. Working on a project for too long can make it feel stale and uninteresting. Going too quick means we don’t always get the best from our writing.
As your partner, we can work out a suitable pace that gives you space to think and be creative, but a pace that also gets the project complete!
10. Isolated
Being a writer can be lonely. Having someone to be your writing buddy, to chat about your ideas and your writing journey can be very beneficial.
Buddy up with me for a range of benefits. Find out more about accountability partnering and get a free chat to discuss your writing today.
Nick (he/him) is an experienced, professional editor and proofreader, specialising in LGBTQ+ writing. Use this form to get in touch right now!
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