Blogger: Rachel Zurakowski
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Ever dream about writing a book but never given it a try? This blog’s for you. And it’s also for those of you who have an idea that you’re too scared or too busy to write. Whether you’ve published twenty books or never put a creative word down on paper, what’s keeping you from writing the book you’ve always dreamed about?
When I tell people I’m a literary agent, many of them say to me that they would like to write a book some day. It makes me wonder why they don’t just do it. If writing a book is one of your dreams, even if you do feel inadequate in some way, wouldn’t it be better to write it–even if it’s never published–than to never have written it at all?
This brings to mind my great aunt, the one who wrote the stories I found in her closet after she had died. My great aunt didn’t die regretting that she never wrote a book. She wrote a couple. They weren’t published (she had the rejection letters to prove that she had tried), but she fulfilled her dream of being a writer. Now I get to learn about her through her stories, and I’m proud of her because she moved past her fears.
So what keeps you from writing your manuscript? Is it a fear of:
rejection?
putting the time and energy into something that might never go anywhere?
ridicule?
falling short of your expectations for the project?
not being as good at writing that type of story as someone else?
Or perhaps it’s not just fear that holds you back. Maybe it’s lack of motivation, laziness, or busyness.
Your story is unique to you, and it will be gone unless you write it. This was illustrated for me last Friday when I went to a banquet with a friend of mine. While there I met an elderly woman who lived through WWII in Germany and finally made it to America through a series of miracles. Her story was so interesting, and someone at our table asked her if she had written down her experiences. She said she had considered it but hadn’t because she knew nobody would be interested in reading them and because her family didn’t care. Her story is going to be gone soon if she doesn’t write it down, and that’s sad to think about.
I experience fears that hold me back, too. I don’t dream of writing a book, but I have other unfulfilled dreams; so I understand where you all are coming from.
I’m a strong believer in pursuing dreams; if you have something you’ve dreamed about writing, I hope you will take the time to do so for your own fulfillment. I know you can do it. 🙂
November is National Novel Writing Month. Perhaps you want to join the novel-writing frenzy? Click here to check it out. I hear it’s fun.
Any writers want to share a note or story of encouragement to those who might take up this challenge? Are you glad you wrote your manuscript?
NaNoWriMo RULES! I started in 2005, and I don’t think my novel would have been written without it. I’m joining again this year, and I’ve been blogging about it and of course will write about it even more next month.
Fear of not writing something “good enough” is huge for many writers. The rule of NaNoWriMo is: Don’t get it right, get it written. There’s always time for editing it into greatness later.
Thank you for this encouraging post. My reasons are every one that you list, but most of all, the fear that what I write won’t be good enough. I am frustrated by my procrastination about writing. I am afraid. Have to get past that. Thank you again Rachel.
I’m all signed up for Nanowrimo as well. First year participating, so we’ll see what happens.
Gosh, back in November 2007, I never had any idea I’d even be writing. I mean, ME? A writer? Yeah, right! Well, two years later. . . I’m still writing.
If God gives you a story and gives you the desire and passion to write it, who are you not to do it?
Take the next step. My friend, Michele told me that once. . . She said, “Take the next step, see if it’s where God wants you. If not, then He’ll direct you elsewhere.”
So, if you have a story . . . get it out. Might not be published, but hey, at least you got it out. You’ll never know where it could lead.
My writer’s group is all about the “butt in chair” approach. I encourage anyone with the dream of writing a book to just sit down and do it–even if it’s just thirty minutes a day. You’ll always wonder what could have been if you don’t. Write away! 🙂
Oh, this was SO me a few years ago! I worked full time (still do) had 3 little kids (still do!) and my “writing” was not even on my radar. Sure, I still dreamed about that manuscript I’d started years ago, but the thought of taking it back up was laughable.
But God said, “do it” and I thought, you know? Why do we always say, “We’ll follow our dreams later… when the kids are grown up… when life is simpler…” Because we’ll NEVER do it if we keep putting it off.
So I did it. I wrote that first full length book in 3 months… (a true miracle of God!) then spent the last 2 years finding out what all I did wrong and learning how to write RIGHT and editing my book. Now, I’m on the last stretch of finishing another book, have starts to two others, and while my life is CRAZY busy most days… I’m enjoying it!!!
Won’t be doing nano this year… November is a hard month for me, but I’m doing my local groups version of in this month trying to pound out the last of my book. Only 2 weeks to write the last 20k words or so… Can she do it?? YES SHE CAN! (sorry… too much Bob the Builder…)
Not doing NaNo this year, per se, because I have a deadline looming for a completed manuscript that’s already started. Wouldn’t fit the rules, BUT I do have about 45K-50K words I’d like to get on paper before Thanksgiving so I’m “ghosting” the word count goals along with my crit partners who are signing up. That way I get the benefit of the fun and the challenge even if I’m not eligible to join for real.
I struggle the voices in my head telling me what all my friends and relative will think about my novels. “Did you see the comma she missed on page 97?” Or “I seriously thought she’d write a more spiritual book.” How about, “What does she think she knows about…” “The book was so boring.”
None of my friends or relatives have said anything even close to this. It’s only the voices in my head.
I shut up those voices by reminding myself that I write for the audience of One.
“putting the time and energy into something that might never go anywhere?”
That is mine.
I’m afraid that every moment I spend hammering away at a book that no one might ever be interested in is time I’m taking away from my family AND other things I can be doing to provide an income for them.
I hope my post was an encouragement to many of you! Thanks to those who posted and shared fears with us. I know that’s not easy.
Also, thank you to those who’ve shared encouragement for others. We appreciate you!
Not doing the NAmo this time around but will be picking up finishing a book I started and left off to do some other projects my agent requested I do. Thanks for the article.
I’m writing my first book right now which evolved so far into a 6 book series. I’m registered for nanowrimo, too. In November, I’m going to be writing a book for nanowrimo and still plug away at my work in progress. I was always afraid my passion for writing would end in one book like the author of Gone With The Wind. Not afraid of it anymore.
How sad! That’s the primary reason I started writing when a story idea came to me nine years ago. My grandmother had an amazing gift with words and always said she was going to write a book. She’s 94 now and has Alzheimer’s. She’ll never write that book. My mother has always said she’d like to write a book. She never has and most likely never will. I didn’t want to get to the end of my life and have my grandchildren sigh over the book I never wrote. Now they’ll just grumble about the books I DID write 🙂
My son joined an Amish community, became Amish to marry an Amish girl of 15 years. I’ve made notes of his acceptance as Amish and what he experience, the wedding (which I attened) and the life they had when they both were excommunicated and decided to live their own lives still maintaining the Amish customs and beliefs. They live on 70 acres of land in Viginia and have 2 wonderful children (boy and girl). I’m not a writer but this story should be told. Can you lead me to someone who is interested?