Not all writers want to write a book, of course. But pretty much every writer I've ever met has, at some stage, decided they're ready to tackle a book-length project.
Perhaps you've already started on
one: a novel (or novella), a memoir, a book based on your blog...
In fact, like many writers I know, you might have started on several books over the years.
Have you finished any?
I'll admit up-front: I have my share of unfinished books too. I've got some novels from years ago that reached varying states of completeness: one got to a decent second draft, one was finished enough
that I shipped it around agents for a while, and one made it to a scrappy 50,000 words during NaNoWriMo 2007 and hasn't been touched since.
I've also got a bunch of finished books: two novels (Lycopolis & Oblivion), Publishing E-Books For Dummies, and my four Blogger's Guides.
Sometimes, it's perfectly appropriate to set aside a book that you've got part-way with. Perhaps:
- You were never all that enthusiastic about it anyway, and
you've simply lost interest
- You're hellishly busy right now and the book is going to have to wait a few months
- You enjoyed writing it, but now you've grown so much as a writer that you want to begin on a fresh project
There are lots of less-than-great reasons for unfinished books, though. And they usually look something like this:
- You've been working on the same novel for eight years, on and off ... and it's still
not done
- You wrote an outline for an ebook that you know your blog readers would love ... but you just can't find time to write it
- You keep getting a few chapters into a novel only to drift away from it and start something new
- You're writing so sporadically that you never get up any momentum
- You stopped writing during a busy period (having kids, new job, house move) and never started again
When I was in my teens, I had a whole host of
unfinished projects -- mostly writing and craft related. For a long time, I told myself I was just the sort of person who never finished anything.
Truth is, while some people are probably a little better at finishing than others, everyone has it in them to finish a book.
These days, I've learnt to make regular time to write. I still have some projects that drag on a bit ... but I don't keep starting things in a fit of
enthusiasm only to abandon them.
One big reason why I didn't finish some of those early projects -- and perhaps this is true for you too -- is because I wasn't at all confident about them. I didn't spend much time writing because it was hard to feel like writing was especially important or worthwhile. I could see that my writing wasn't perfect (it still isn't ;-)) and sometimes I thought there was no point writing at all.
As you might guess, I
feel a bit differently about it these days! But I know how deep-rooted a lack of confidence can be for writers, and how it can show up as feelings of guilt or fear.
Next week, I'm running a webinar all about getting through those feelings and finally making regular time to write ... and I'd love it if you could join me. :-)
Here are the details...
The
Confident Writer: Ditching Guilt, Beating Fears, and Making Time to Write
Date: Thursday 27th April
Time: 8pm - 9pm UK (3pm - 4pm EST, 12 noon - 1pm PST)
Topics covered:
- Guilt about writing ... and guilt about not writing!
- The underlying problem that “I don’t have time to write” might be masking
- How
to carry on despite common writing fears
- Practical ways to boost both your confidence AND your time to write
- Ways to focus when you’re writing (instead of worrying about everything else)
- Getting support and encouragement with your writing
The seminar will only last an hour, which includes Q&A time ... so it's not going to take up your whole evening.
Even if you can't attend live, do register anyway so I can send you the recording and slide pack afterwards. :-)
