How certain are you that you will finish the writing project you've started?
Finishing a piece, whether a story, essay, or something longer, is something I personally bump up against, and I have become convinced that this, of all the battles writers face, is the battle. All the other battles--publication, marketing and PR, connecting with your readership, etc.--are fought after this one: Getting the words down on the page, then shaping them into a better story, and, finally, sculpting and polishing them for the reader.
There are three common reasons you may be feeling less than certain about seeing your project through--and here are some ideas for increasing your certainty and determination.
💡 I have too many ideas! Ideas for a writer can be an embarrassment of riches. How do you pick just one? What if I told you that you don't have to pick just one. I know writers who work on several ideas simultaneously--sometimes even book-length projects!
If this seems like too much juggling for you, write your ideas down on a single page and study them. You may find that several of your ideas belong within in the same piece, or you may find that by writing the idea down, some of that magic has evaporated and it isn't as intriguing to you as you once thought. What idea or ideas intrigue you the most? Which one(s) make you want to clear your calendar and get to work? That's where you start.
🕰️ I don't have enough time to dedicate to writing. Time is the thing we never seem to have enough of. Lack of time can also be a convenient excuse (ahem!), and I urge us all to stop using it. One day we truly won't have the time to write The Thing. I'm sorry for the grim reality check, but it's true. Don't wait for great swaths of time to write your novel or memoir!
The truth is, you can start even with five minutes a day. You may have to shift your priorities or sacrifice something else. But here's the thing: If you start with just five minutes, you won't have to shift or sacrifice much. And by starting small you may find that you actually have ten or fifteen minutes to devote to your writing. You may suddenly find an hour!
🏆 I'm afraid my work isn't actually that good/I'm afraid of succeeding beyond my wildest dreams. Fear of failure or success (often both!) is something a lot of artists struggle with. Maybe you've told people for years that you want to write a book and now that you're doing it you have to think about who will read it and what their response will be. This can be especially tricky for memoir, but even with fiction there is no denying that you are putting something of yourself on the page.
Take a deep breath and leave the future to the future. Focus on what you are doing now--putting your story on the page--and remove yourself from imagined outcomes. This can be a herculean effort, and I won't deny that a good therapist can be a helpful part of the process! I've also started a list of books on Bookshop.org that address this very real creative roadblock.
Tell me: Is there something else standing in the way of you completing your writing project? Reply and let me know! I read and respond to every message I get.
🌟 For further inspiration: Today's front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle features my friend, Rory Kandel, who, during the pandemic, pursued her lifelong dream of starting a bakery. Her determination despite her recent MS diagnosis is one that will inspire you to pursue your goals no matter what. It sure inspires me! San Francisco Chronicle | Apple News
Worth a Click
“The main lesson I’ve taken away from this is that if you’re only going to be successful in one half of your career, make it the second half,” [Mick] Herron said. “If it’s the first half, that’s a tragedy. But the second half is a happy ending.”
If you love Slow Horses (the AppleTV+ show) or Mick Herron, the writer of the detective novels the series is based on--or if you want to hear how an unknown novelist made it big, you must read this profile. Wall Street Journal | Apple News (You may encounter a paywall, but I hope not!)
34 Amazing Writing Residencies You Should Apply for This Year - This list was published late last year, but the residencies stand the test of time (and it looks like they maintain the list). I, personally, dream of attending Hedgebrook.
[class] How to Get a Book Deal the Easy Way, November 14 at 5 p.m. Pacific. $150. This isn't sponsored, but I subscribe to Leigh Stein's paid Substack (worth the price!) and respect and trust her work.
Now, go write The Thing⚡️