5 Lame Excuses Holding You Back From Writing Success

"I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work." – Pearl S. Buck

You tell yourself that tomorrow is the day that you'll conquer your fear of starting.

You may have the itch to finally start that freelance writing gig you've been thinking about for months. Go ahead and just wait. It'll be there tomorrow, right? Fat chance. Life moves too fast for opportunities just to wait for you to get the courage to grab them.

Here's a short list of several reasons folks don't or won't start. They're lies and stories we tell ourselves and then cheat our psyche into believing. They're also known as excuses.

Oh, and besides that short list of lame excuses, I'm gonna call you out and tell you how to snash through.

I don't have the knowledge

The excuse that "I don't know how" is no longer valid.

With the wealth of resources available online, there's no excuse for not learning what you need to succeed. Do a quick Google search, check out Amazon, or hire a coach if you need more guidance - but commit to learning and being equipped to tackle your challenge head-on.

For Pete's sake, not having the knowledge is a flimsy excuse.

You have the internet in the palm of your hand. Go and get it!

I don't know where to begin

When you dream, you don't always remember how the dream started, but usually only how it ended.

The human brain is designed to process information in a non-linear fashion. If you're looking to learn a new skill, often, "the beginning" will make itself apparent no matter where you start. And since everyone processes information differently, your "starting point" could help you form a unique perspective that others will find interesting and valuable.

So next time someone tells you they don't know where to begin - consider all of the possibilities that exist outside of traditional linear thinking.

The trick is to make the conscious decision to start and then actually begin.

What will my friends say?

No matter how you slice it, your friends will say something.

If you start, they'll talk. If you don't start, they'll still talk. Your peers' approval should seldom be the driving force behind your writing and freelancer decisions.

Worrying about how other people in your industry will react to what you're doing is pointless.

What they might need is some good old-fashioned disruption anyway.

It's too hard

Anything worth doing is hard.

When was the last time "easy" had a huge payoff for you?

The truth is that the more challenging something is to achieve, the more we value it.

So if you're looking for immediate gratification, you should find a different line of work. But if you're okay with putting in the hard work now for a greater payoff later - then pull that damn trigger.

Nobody will care

You're right; nobody will care IF you're doing something for the wrong reasons.

Are you writing junk because you need the cash?

Nobody will care.

Are you stomping on others to make yourself look good?

Nobody will care.

Are you name-dropping so they will promote your work?

Nobody will care.

Authenticity can't be faked, and selfish motivations can be sniffed out from a mile away.

Be on a mission to make an impact.

Somebody will care because they share your mission.

The final word

Too often, we are hesitant to jump into action and take that first step.

We struggle with writing issues, so we dodge the pen and fall back on what is comfortable. We talk for years about starting our own freelance writing business, only to be too frozen with fear or excuses to do anything. Your excuses may get more creative over time, but they remain excuses. And they prevent you from the life you desire.

You're never promised a tomorrow. So why do you keep remaining in a present you know you'll regret later?

The truth is that life is too damn short to spend another day pursuing a j-o-b that you don't love. It'll drive you flippin' crazy.

Don't drive yourself crazy.

Drive yourself forward.

Fight for the life you want. The life you love. The life you need.

Don't wait.

The time for action has always been right now.

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