In an excerpt from her book, How to Write a Novel, Joanna Penn asks how long you’ve been thinking about – but not – writing a novel. “For many writers, it’s been years, perhaps even as long as they can remember,” she says. So why haven’t you started? If you’ve started, why haven’t you finished?
The excuses are numerous:
- It’s too hard
- I don’t know enough
- I don’t have time.
- I’m worried I’m not good enough.
- I don’t know what to write
“Whatever you’re feeling, you’re the only one who can work through the obstacles and shift your mindset,” Penn says. “You have to want to write your novel. You have to be determined to finish it.”
So, how can you overcome these challenges? There’s no secret formula. If you don’t have the time, make the time, Penn says. If you think your writing is terrible, join the club. Every writer has that fear. The only way to get better is to keep writing and learning. “All writers experience the cycle of self-doubt, but the successful ones learn to live with it,” Penn says. “Career authors understand it’s part of the creative process and don’t let it get in the way of writing and finishing their books.”
If you’re afraid to fail, rethink your concept of failure. You might think poor sales or bad reviews equal failure, but the only failure is not trying. “You can prevent the fear of writing something terrible from becoming a reality by improving your craft and using a rigorous editorial process,” Penn says. “But you also need to accept that fear is part of the creative journey. If you don’t feel it, perhaps you’re not writing what’s truly on your heart.”
Don’t want to be embarrassed or judged? Pick a pen name.
Now, write.
