Stop Lying To Yourself About If You Are Going To Write - You're Not

Let's cut to the chase.

If you're one of those writers who is constantly talking about writing, thinking about writing, and telling the whole world that you are going to write, chances are, you're not going to write. 

At least not anytime soon. 

It's time to stop lying to yourself about writing and face the music. 

If you want to be a writer - you need to write. 

Too often lately I see trends going around on social media with captions such as "Had an idea for a book about X, Y, and Z. Should I write it?"

When did there become such a need for outside validation for a book idea before a writer would sit down and write a book?

I had an idea for a book just last night, and the only person I mentioned this to was my partner, and only because they wanted to know why I was still sitting at my computer at 1 am instead of sleeping. 

Writers don't have to publish their books, they don't have to tell a single soul that they are even writing one, but the one thing they do have to do is write. 

Talking about your book isn't going to write it. 

Sitting there thinking about writing your book isn't going to write it. 

The only thing that is going to write your book is if you actually sit down and write it. 

Whatever it is that is holding you back from writing you need to find a way to put a stop to it. 

Is it plain procrastination? Fear of failure? Lack of planning? 

All of these have solutions. 

You can stop whatever it is you are doing now, yes even reading these articles and go write. You can put off worries about the future of your book until after you have written it and you can sit down and spend thirty minutes coming up with a bare-bones outline for your novel so that you have a sense of direction for your story when you sit down to write it. 

Before you do another thing today I want you to follow a few steps. 

• Recognize your Resistance 

What's holding you back? Is it self-doubt? Laziness? Perfectionism? Find what it is so that you can put a plan in action to address it effectively and stop it from keeping you from your story. 

• Set Realistic Goals 

Once you know what's holding you back it's time to make a plan for achieving your writing goals. Is your goal to write a novel? When will you write it? Where will you write it? It's time to put your words into action and make a plan for when you are going to write them down. 

Avoid the uncomfortable conversations with those you previously told you were going to write a book when they ask you how that book is going. 

Have an answer for them that you are in the process of writing and mean it. 

Go write your book! 

Best of luck! 

With love, 

B. xo xo

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This story was originally posted on Medium.

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