Having Trouble Writing Your Book? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions

Do you have commitment issues?
Writing a book takes a great deal of commitment and discipline. Unfortunately, commitment and discipline are problem areas for us scatterbrained writers. I know you’re such a busy person and so many other things demand your time and attention. I’m sure writing your book isn’t as high on your list as raising your children, paying bills or dealing with everyday life. However, I promise once you finish your book, your life will change. Your confidence will soar because you’ll know that you actually can finish something! You prove to yourself and others that you can have the discipline to see a project from beginning to end. Although I’m a writer, I can’t find the words to describe the feeling of finishing! But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself. Break the no commitment cycle of starting a project, becoming frustrated or uninterested, and starting another project…becoming bored and starting another...and repeat. Stop sowing your wild writing oats by creating bastard story after bastard story. It’s time to commit.

Are you emotionally available?
You have to be in love with you story or at least like it a lot! I mean, you’re gonna be spending lots of time with it, right? It’s easier to emotionally connect with your writing if your personal life is stable. If you’re living a drama-filled lifestyle, you may want to wait until things stabilize before venturing into writing your book. Sure, it’s possible to write in the midst of chaos—some of your best writing might happen during this time—but there’s a big difference between writing and finishing! Writing a book isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Put yourself in a position to succeed. The moral here: eliminate as much drama and stress as possible before you start writing.

Can you handle solitude? Some people don’t like being alone. If you’re one of those people, you might have some difficulty at first, but it’s nothing you can’t overcome. Writing is a lonely task. It’s you and your computer or you and your notepad together for extended amounts of time. You must temporarily neglect your family, friends, and other responsibilities during the time you set aside for writing. Later on I’ll discuss ways to get your writing done without isolating your family and friends.