10 Reasons for Not Writing a Book
How many times have we heard it said that there is an author in all of us? It is probably true, so why do some people manage it and others not? I have come to the conclusion that probably the only real difference between authors and non- authors is that authors actually got started!
There are so many reasons for not taking the plunge – maybe my Top Ten will sound familiar!
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No time
This has to be the most commonly used excuse. In truth if I were to cut down other time wasting activities, started my day an hour earlier or gave up some unnecessary chores then it should be possible to find a couple of hours a day from somewhere.
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No space
I think that it is important to feel comfortable, secure and private to write. It is no good sitting in a busy room where people are trying to read over your shoulder. I can never decide if a good view is important – it inspires and it also distracts – maybe I need a tower building somewhere!
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Guilt
I think that this is a tough one – trying to write anything can feel like you are having a secret affair. I know that when I wrote a University thesis my husband did feel like we had a third person in the marriage. Somehow we need to be able to grant ourselves the right to take or make the time and to not feel guilty, this may stop us acting as if we have something to hide!
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No confidence
I have none and what little I muster is fragile and so easily broken. I over analyse everything I do and talk myself out of it. The greatest single gift I could get for myself would be a dose of confidence.
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Money
I guess this harps back to the ‘Guilt’ mentioned above. Could we or should we be spending our time doing something that will bring in an income? The chances of actually selling anything written are so small that in many ways you have to justify the time spent as being ‘non-earning’. A sudden financial windfall might solve this – but not a good idea waiting for this to come along.
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Fear
Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of ridicule, fear of becoming involved with work which nobody appreciates – need I go on?
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No ideas
Well, this is not a huge problem – I have many ideas, but linking back to ‘confidence’ and ‘fear’ above I am never convinced that I have good enough ideas!
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No support
I have nobody around me that understands the need to write. My husband accepts it and lives with it but he has no real concept of what is involved and I could never discuss it with him.
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Reading good books
OK, so you get all the problems above sorted and then you read a really well written novel and you immediately feel totally inadequate. Back to square one and most of the excuses above apply once more!
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Celebrity endorsements
Every time I see a book ‘written’ or ‘endorsed’ by a celebrity I lose all heart. It is so easy for these people to get noticed for what is often poor work. This leaves me feeling that there is no point in me attempting – never having been a topless model, a soap star, appeared on reality TV or the like – how can I compete.
So now you all know. If I ever actually do get a book underway then I will have to have found away of overcoming all of these excuses.
You never know, maybe one day!
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Tags: books, confidence, Desk, excuses for not writing a book, Fear, novels, space, writer, Writers, writing a book
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April 22nd, 2009 at 6:11 am
Would add No silence to the list.
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:14 am
Yes writing definately has to come from the heart of the author and be something they really want to do no matter what. Great article!
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:40 am
keep on sharing.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:21 am
1, 4, 6, 8, and 9 for me too
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 am
I have had the same feelings Evelyn. Every thought on a book turns into another and another. I guess we just have to pick one and go for it. The first one doesn’t have to be a zillion pages. Maybe a short childrens book? Something to get started. I like the thought of leaving something behind when I am long gone.
Good luck.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:41 am
I have aspirations to some day write a book, but for all the reasons you have listed in your article, I never seem to get around to starting it.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:43 am
Interesting article. I really enjoyed reading it. My biggest problem with trying to write is finding a quiet place. It seems like there’s either someone hanging around or else the phone is ringing off the hook with I do get some time to myself.
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:26 am
I enjoyed the article. I can’t say I have ever wanted to write a book. I’ll just stick with poetry I think. Good work.
Christine
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 am
I relate to several of these stumbling blocks. Nicely done.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:54 am
Great article, Evelyn. I can totally relate, esp to 4, 5, 6, & 8.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:00 am
Hey Evelyn! Great article or whatever! Really enjoyed this a lot. Good points too!
BUT!! I feel you truly have the talent! Even just a small book of short stories (I’m sure you probably have a few more stuffed away). I know I would buy it and suggest it as good enjoyable reading. I have and really do enjoy your writings. Whatever you do don’t stop! Thank you for sharing again… God Bless.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:14 am
Number 1 , you should never ever feel guilty for writing any type of piece. Number 2 , many writers including my favorite (Dean Koontz) spends an entire day writing out just one page over and again until he’s satisfied with it and he does it that way because he’s his own worst critic , like we all writers are. Number 3 , it would be nice to earn a significant living in writing but to be true to your writing , write because that’s what you love to do and then maybe the money comes in later , but always be proud of your writings whether youve earned from them or not. Number 4 , there are tons of books out there with pretty much the same storylines but they still sell , even though theyre the same storylines , each and every solitary one is written differently because of the writers unique ability. Read read read as much as you can because that really expands the creative mind and you’ll find yourself writing stuff youve never attempted before. I agree with you that it’s important to have some type of support and I’m glad for a site like triond because the support from this site is helpful. If I wrote 100 stories but only got 1 comment , that makes my day and inspires me to bring that number up to 2. Great article Evelyn and I hope you stick with the book because like you said , you just never know…..
God Bless you and yours…
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
I am actually writting a book now, but I have no idea how to get it published, that is my stumbling block. I don’t have funds to self publish either.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Everyone tells me I should put my pet articles together and make them into a book, quite honestly I dont have the energy, and like Mark I dont know where to find a publisher.
Somebody should make a link on how to find a publisher and how to submit.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:50 am
I say just plug your nose, close your eyes and take the plunge….It does take time and energy to find a publisher who wants to publish your stuff, on the other hand self publishing takes money….there are ways to overcome, hang in there, if your heart is there, it will happen
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
lol, to late! My first book is done: Drug Trip. As I couldn’t get a publisher I’m not only self publishing but starting a publing company as well.
Thanks,
Clay
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I loved this article. I think alot of people have the same reasoning for never really starting or finishing a book. At least you can get some support with your writing efforts thru an online community like this one. Someone once told me to tell as many people as you can that you are about to do something big, that way you are more likely wanting to finish it to show everyone you did it.
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I am with you on several of these points Evelyn, especially the guilt and money one, excellent article.
April 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Great article, Evelyn. I don’t really have the time to finish this comme
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I started writing my book about a month ago and have about 11,000 words or so. For me it is time really. I have had to give up writing for Triond to really give it a decent shot. I feel like if I finish it that will be an achievement whether it is published or not. I think about whether it is good enough to be published or not and think that it is because that is what I have to think to be able to keep writing. Get someone else to read it for you, someone who is a wide reader. They will soon tell you what they think about it and wether or not it is engaging. Just get in and do it if thats what you want, otherwise you will spend the rest of your life wondering.
RJ
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Day and night effort with unbalance result. By the way writing a book is a pleasure and self-proud. Keep writing although no support.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I think it’s true that everyone has at least one book in them and I say congragulations to all of you who have put in the creativity, work ,and time into writing a book. I applaud you all and I wish you success.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Maybe it would be most accurate to say everyone has at least one manuscript in them; I’ve written two…but I can’t seem to get up enough gumption to proofread them and send them off. This is much the harder part.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:19 am
nice article. I too am planning to write and publish my own book since find the right publisher is a little bit expensive.
April 24th, 2009 at 2:33 am
I really like your article here. So very true! Thank You! Liz
April 24th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Right on target. Excellent article.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:36 am
This article has made me think!! (good article!!)
I think the thing that holds me back is some kind of cost-benefit ie will it all be worth it? or will it be hours and hours wasted?
Great article though – revivor
April 24th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Yes, I agree!
April 25th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Hi Evelyn I have a part written novel, and I was going to sit down and have a few hours working on it today, but you have given me a good excuse to mow the lawn instead, interesting article, thanks
April 25th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Writing a book is time-consuming and it’s hard to get an appropriate publisher to publish your material. Good work, keep it up!
April 25th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Well-written and informative!
May 1st, 2009 at 9:38 am
So true and a little funny because it is so true. Very well written and concise. I’ve considered tackeling the whole writing a book thing in pieces–a collection of short stories that are connected in some way and when put all together are almost a novel. What do you think? I do have two manuscripts finished, but I’m horrible at revision. It should be perfect the first time through, right? I’m also horrible at the sending it out, getting rejection notices part of the process, for almost all of the same reasons that you mention above.
May 14th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Yeah I’m pretty scared about trying to get mine published.
May 19th, 2009 at 3:18 am
commendable
May 21st, 2009 at 10:33 am
Yes, a few of these seem very familiar. Believe in yourself and you’ll do it. Good luck.
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:01 am
excuses and excuses…the main thing is its writer’s scare.