by Abbie Emmons, author of
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed because your book isn’t written or finished yet, don’t worry! You are not alone. Many writers feel intimidated by the mountain of the novel writing process. But remember: you were born to conquer this mountain. Your story burns in your heart with the fire of a thousand suns, and only you can bring it to life in the uniquely beautiful way it was meant to be told.
So don’t shy away from this epic quest – don’t retreat into your comfort zone just because you feel safer there. You know what is in that comfort zone; it will never change. To live your author dream, you have to climb this mountain
Maybe your dream is to publish novels and share your stories with the world. Or you might want to see your screenplays made into films. Or maybe you aspire to run your own publishing house. Or maybe you want to create stories for video games or audio dramas, or write your memoir.
No dream is too big. Do you know why? Because you created this dream, which means you have already conquered it in your mind. This dream is engraved in your heart; this mountain was born from your imagination. And that means you’re fully equipped to climb it. You were born to climb it.
Every writer faces it at some point: doubt, discouragement, fear, hesitation, perfectionism and creative exhaustion. Sometimes the last thing we want to do is sit at our desk and write. For what? Because writing is hard! It’s a challenge filled with obstacles and conflict – much like your protagonist’s journey of change. But just like fictional characters, our goal is to overcome these challenges and obstacles, not let them defeat us.
Writers are inherently introspective. We have a supercharged imagination, which can sometimes turn against us. When self-doubt sets in and causes us to question whether our books are worth writing, part of us clings to that fear and uncertainty, leading to a narrowing of our creativity and a withering of our motivation.
I don’t want this to happen to you. That’s why we’re going to identify the top ten obstacles writers face and how to overcome them. Remember, you are the main character in your own story! Your character’s arc unfolds through struggle and triumph. So let’s take a look at the most common ways writers self-sabotage and how to overcome these obstacles.
01. Perfectionism.
The trap:
You think your writing should be impeccable the first time. When you write something, you often feel unsatisfied because it doesn’t match the quality of the Pulitzer Prize-winning prose you’re comparing it to. You struggle to make meaningful progress during a writing session because your perfectionism keeps you stuck in one place, listening to your inner critic.
How to overcome this:
Focus on progress, not perfection. Give yourself permission to write lousy, especially in the first draft. Because, guess what? If you buy a book in a bookstore, you don’t read that author’s first draft. Published books go through several rounds of revisions and edits before landing on your shelf. So take off the pressure to be perfect during the writing phase. First drafts are supposed to be complicated. It is through rewriting that brilliance emerges. As I always say: you don’t have to be a good writer; you just need to be a good rewriter. Don’t make it perfect. Just make it exist.
02. Imposter syndrome.
The trap:
You think you’re not qualified to write a book because you’re not “a real writer.” Maybe you recently started writing and don’t have as much experience as seasoned authors who publish books. You feel like an imposter because when you imagine your book sitting on the shelf next to the titles of your favorite authors, a little voice in the back of your mind whispers: You have no place with them. You’re not a good enough writer. You will never be as famous or as successful as these authors! This voice of self-doubt paralyzes you, stifling your creativity and making you feel ill-equipped to share your work with the world.
How to overcome this:
Real writers are people who write. Your experiences, your perspective and your voice are valid and necessary. You have something unique to bring to the world that has never been created before. And guess what? Those famous, bestselling authors you admire all started exactly where you are now. They all have bad writing days sometimes. They all make embarrassing typos. They all receive one-star reviews from critical readers. They are all human, just like you. Curing imposter syndrome isn’t about climbing the ladder of success and meeting your idols in the winner’s circle — it’s about removing your idols from those pedestals and seeing them as the regular people they are.
03. I’m too young/old.
The trap:
You think your age prevents you from writing something meaningful or getting published. Perhaps you are a child, teenager, or young adult who feels that you need more education and experience before you can become a writer. Or maybe you’re an older person, reflecting on your life, and wishing you’d written a book years ago. Whether you think it’s too early or too late to write that story in your heart, both of these beliefs are dangerous misconceptions that will trip you up and prevent you from unlocking your creative potential.
How to overcome this:
Creativity has no expiration date or minimum age. Readers crave authentic stories, regardless of the age of the writer. Instead of seeing your age as a setback, see it as an advantage! If you’re a teen writer, you have a unique perspective that adult writers lack. If you are an older person, you have invaluable life experience and wisdom that younger writers have yet to acquire. Wherever you are in life, you are in a unique position to offer your perspective and ideas to readers who come in contact with them.
*excerpt from “Make Your Story Matter: An Interactive Guide to Unleash Your Brain’s Storytelling Power and Write a Book Readers Love“
Abbie Emmons has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. What started as an intrinsic love for storytelling became a lifelong passion. For over seven years, Emmons has been sharing her wisdom on her YouTube channel (@AbbieEmmons), where she teaches writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling to turn their ideas into masterpieces. Emmons then launched Abbie’s Story University, an online learning platform that has attracted thousands of students around the world.
