Today I’m reprinting a revised version of a favorite article that appeared on the blog in January 2012. It’s just as relevant today as it was then. Enjoy!
One of the most common excuses I hear from people who say they want to write but aren’t doing it is that they don’t have enough time.
If you’re attached to that excuse, you might not want to keep reading. :)
I see frequent articles on the web about “how to find time to write” — and I’ve even written one of them myself for my ebook (it’s good — you can check it out here). But despite the plethora of advice out there about how to find the time, many aspiring writers are still not getting their butts in their seats and their fingers on the keys. And I know it’s NOT because they haven’t read the right “find the time” article yet.
So what’s happening instead?
What you’re telling yourself instead of writing
If you’re wanting to write, but not doing it, you’re probably telling yourself something along these lines:
I’m too busy — I have too much on my plate already.
Even though I really want to, I just don’t have enough time to write.
I have to have a big block of time to write, and that’s impossible given my schedule.
I’m already exhausted, I can’t add one more thing.
You might even be telling yourself you have more important things to do. You’ve got an endless to-do list, right? And obligations and commitments that are Really Important.
You might be waiting for a whole day off or a Big Block of Writing Time where you can finally sit down and focus on your writing, but when that time comes, you remember that the laundry really needs to get done or that you promised Jane you’d go with her to that party and you don’t have anything to wear so you have to go shopping and while you’re out you remember that you forgot to… Well, you get the picture.
You might also be thinking you need to get farther along in your career and save some money (or get the right writing room or the right computer) before you can devote yourself to your writing career.
But none of these are the real reasons you aren’t writing.
Let me tell you what is true
The real reason you are not writing is because you are scared.
You are scared that you don’t know how to write, or what to write about.
You are scared that your writing won’t be good enough, original enough, or that maybe someone else has already said it better.
You are afraid that your new book concept isn’t going to hold up or that you’ll lose interest part way through.
You are scared to do the hard work of writing, and overwhelmed by the thought of such a big project.
You aren’t sure where to start or what to write about.
You are afraid to do a new kind of writing or venture into new territory, that you won’t be able to do it justice.
You’re scared you might hurt people if you write your truth. Or disappoint them.
This thing about time is just a story
You can go on telling yourself the story that you don’t have time to write if you want to, but we both know it isn’t true.
If writing means as much to you as you say it does, you must learn to overcome your fear so you can make it happen.
Stop looking for TIME and start looking for COURAGE.
(If you want help check out my Writer’s Circle.)
You can do it. I believe in you.
