why you should write that book | and why it’s easier than you think

Writers don’t always write.

Amazing, isn’t it?

The idea of writing is usually easier thought about than done. There are so many things can hold a writer back. Fear, doubt, a million “what if”s.

Don’t feel bad. It happens to all of us. No writer is immune to it.

But the difference between writers who write books and writers who don’t, is their ability to write despite the fear, doubt, and “what if”s.

To write the books you want, to get the success you want, to be the writer you want to be, you have to write even though fear is telling you you can’t. Because here’s the thing: fear has a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t write your book.

You’re not good enough!

You’re behind!

You don’t have what it takes!

Other writers are better than you!

You can’t make an impact!

But I have just as many reasons why you should. After reading about them, you can decide which side you want to listen to.

Your Idea Could Change Someone’s Life

We tend to be so critical of ourselves and our ideas. This criticism can make us blind to the greatness inside of us.

We can be so quick to think that our ideas are foolish, crazy, or unimpactful. That isn’t to say that every idea we have is gold—some need a lot of work and some just aren’t usable—but a lot of your ideas are probably better than you think.

You never know how you could change someone’s life by what you write. Here’s the key: if it excites and inspires you, it will excite and inspire someone else too. Actually, it will probably inspire a lot of other people. It may even impact them in ways you never dreamed.

You may never know how someone was impacted by your work. But don’t let that unknown stop you. It’s not your job to prepare and shift based on what other people will think, or if they’ll think at all.

It’s your job to write and to do your best. The rest is for God and your readers to work out.So, you want to take another look at that idea? Just sayin’. It could change someone’s life. You never know…

You Have a UNIQUE Life Experience

No one has lived your life. Absolutely no one. You have experienced things that no one else has experienced—through your eyes and heart. That gives you a unique perspective to write from, one that somebody would enjoy hearing about.

So when you tell yourself that you’re ordinary and that you don’t have anything interesting or worthwhile to write about, think again. No one has lived the life you’ve lived. No one has seen the world through your eyes. No one has felt things with your heart. You have something unique to tell.

Now, it may not feel like you have anything unique to write about. Well, maybe your experiences have been pretty mediocre. But you can write about them or incorporate them into your stories in unique ways. You could describe the feelings and scenes the way everyone else does, or you could describe them in a way that reflects who you are.

You have the opportunity to write with a perspective that no one else has. Don’t pass it up.

You Are a UNIQUE Person

There’s no one else exactly like you in the entire world, therefore, the book you write no one else could ever write. The world will literally never get to hear what you have to say, unless you say it.

Yes, you may not have a ton of skill, time, or energy to put toward your book, but if you want to write, those things don’t have to stop you.You are a unique person and you have unique life experiences that shouldn’t be hidden because of fear, doubt in your abilities, or a lack of time. Your unique perspective as a unique writer deserves to be written about, and you deserve to write about it.

You Could Be Someone’s Favorite Author Someday

Now, before you roll your eyes and say, ”yeah, right,” take a moment to really think about it.

You have the potential to bring people joy, hope, and entertainment. You have the potential to write something that you might not think is super amazing, but that makes someone’s whole day or week. You even have the potential to be someone’s favorite author someday.

Who doesn’t think that? (Hint: you’re probably the only one)

But…first you have to write the book so they can have something to read and love. Yeah, I know. There are so many reasons why writing can be hard, but there are also reasons—outside of you—why it is so fulfilling.

You have no idea what kind of impact you’re making. You have no idea what kind of impact you could make. Don’t stop just because you think your book won’t make a difference. You don’t know that. You could really help someone. You could bring someone a lot of joy. Don’t steal that joy from your future readers by not writing your book.

It’s easier than you think

Writing a book feels daunting—incredibly daunting—but looking at black and white numbers can eliminate vague feelings of difficulty and make the end result seem a lot more attainable.

200 words a day = a novel in less than nine months

300 words a day = a novel in less than 6 months

500 words a day = a novel in 100 days

700 words a day = a novel in 2 and half months

1000 words a day = a novel in 50 days (less than 2 months!!!!)

What?! All it takes is writing 500 words a day to write a 50,000 word novel in 100 days? Um, wow!

Does it seem less overwhelming now? Good.

Fear will try to give you so many reasons why you shouldn’t write that book you’ve been thinking about, but what it doesn’t tell you is that there are just as many reasons why you should. And after reading about them, my hope for you is that you find the positive reasons much more convincing than the negative ones.

What is the number one reason fear gives you to not write your book?