5 excuses that will stop you from writing a book
Last week I attended The Best You Expo in London, and something one of the speakers said really resonated with me. This was the gist of it:
“So many people put off doing what they want to do. There’s always an excuse… They’ll do it when they’ve achieved something else first. They’ll blame other people or situations for not doing it. And for some, there is that niggle or frustration that holds them back from doing what they really want to do”.
It grabbed my attention, because when it comes to writing a book that will build your business, I hear things like this all the time:
- I don’t feel successful yet...
- I don’t think I’m good enough.
- It feels to scary to put myself out there.
- Do I know enough yet?
- I’ll do it when…
So it becomes easier to hide away in a corner rather than stretch your comfort zone and take some action.
But wouldn’t it be a shame to spend years talking about the idea of writing a book, but never making it happen?
It’s all too easy to find really plausible reasons not to turn your dream into a reality. But it’s not going to help you or your business if you continue to play small. Not to mention the impact this would have on you personally and those who you love.
How would you feel if your book never happened?
Or worse still someone else got there before you and wrote it first?
The first step is to identify the excuses and then plan your next best step to stop them in their tracks. The second step is to tell you how our writing retreats can give you space and time to overcome these excuses, and how we can help you to develop the confidence, motivation and clarity to make your book happen.
1. I don’t know how to get started
The number one thing that stops people from writing a book is not knowing how to get started. Many authors don’t get off the starting blocks because they don’t have clarity of what they are writing, who they are writing their book for, and why they are writing it.
You may be thinking things like: Do I write down my ‘whole’ life story? How much of my process do I write in my book? What should I include and what should I leave out? How do I structure it? How do I start and where do I finish? What makes my book different from others that have been written?
Some have had many false starts and unless they see consistent and fast results, then it’s easy to give up at the first hurdle, leaving them annoyed that they have a half-finished book and nothing to show for their work so far.
And all of this can lead to frustration, exasperation and procrastination.
By booking a retreat, you are telling your system that your book is going to happen. With careful guidance and support, you can work out your best first step.
Rather than just an hour here or an hour there, you’ll get quality time to get off the starting blocks. The pre-retreat support that we provide before you go will set you up for success, so that you start to write the right book and your best book, and leave with a plan to get it finished.
2. I don’t have enough time
The second thing that stops our clients from writing a book is time. They struggle to have enough quality time to focus without distractions. They’re often torn between their writing and the needs of others who are important to them.
With the best will in the world, you will always have distractions when you attempt to write your book at a time when others perceive they have access to you. It can be tough learning to create and set new boundaries, and learning to say no can be even harder.
If you don’t make your book a priority, it will be some time before you reap the benefits of your writing activity. Constantly putting your book on the back burner for the needs of others can lead to resentment, which is not good for your health, business or relationships.
The writing retreat gives you time to write. Good quality, uninterrupted time. And writing isn’t just about the time you sit with your notebook or keyboard and write, writing is also about percolating and reflecting on your wisdom and thinking about what you want to say next.
When those ideas are just there on the tip of your tongue or hiding at the back of your head, often all you need is quiet time and space to allow them to emerge, which is one of the beauties of the retreat.
3. I’m not good enough
The third thing that holds people back is lack of confidence. If you’ve tried to start your book by yourself, you may have already had a wobble. You may be concerned whether your writing is good enough, you may struggle with words and grammar, you may have received feedback from others that has dented your confidence, or there may be another fear that stops you.
Your critic might be questioning you, with things like: ‘Who are you to write a book?’, ‘What if no one likes what you have to say?’ or ‘You don’t know enough to write a book’.
These are the kinds of things you can gain support with when you attend a writing retreat with our skilled and experienced authors and facilitators. We help you get really clear how you want to use the time with us and what kind of resource or support you might need. And we’re there for you if you need reminding how good you are and the value of what you have to say.
4. I’ve started but I can’t finish my book
The fourth thing we find is that some people have started writing, but they can’t seem to finish their book. There are all kinds of reasons why this happens. It may be due to some of the aspects already mentioned, or you may not consciously be aware of what is stopping you and the solution.
Although we can’t guarantee that you can write your whole book on the writing retreat, it will certainly give you quality time to get focused with support each step of the way.
You will develop a conscious awareness of what you need to write at your best, so that you can transfer those skills to your everyday environment. We’ll also give you feedback on what you’ve written so far, which will help with your confidence in the next stage of your book writing journey.
And sometimes it is the practical steps of editing, formatting and publishing, so we can also answer any of your questions around this too.
5. I’m struggling with my process
The fifth thing that you may be struggling with is being sure how the book fits in with your business. It might feel like it is taking you away from fee paying activity and you may wonder whether it’s a waste of your time.
As well as helping you to get you started, feeling confident and finished, the informal environment gives you plenty of time to ask questions to help you understand how the book fits in and supports you to grow yourself and your business.
The whole book writing process can help you align your message and gain clarity and confidence in what you know, and how you can build your business off the back of your book. And you’ll be inspired by others on a similar journey. This often sparks an idea or three that may well help you take yourself and your business to the next level.
Let’s get rid of your excuses
So many people have a dream to write a book, but it stays on the ‘one day’ list.
When you commit to attending one of our writing retreats, you’re committing to making your book happen. Even if you haven’t got time right now, you’ll know that it’s coming up soon and you’ll finally get it started – or finished – with support and feedback as you get it done!
Click here to find out more about our 2018 retreats and to join us.
We’ll be in the beautiful New Forest from 20-25 June and Spain from 21-26 September.
£500 confirms your place and when you sign up before 28 February 2018, you’ll get over £1000 worth of bonuses to set you up for success before you join us.
This is your time so together let's make your book happen!