four reasons you're not writing your book

You have an idea for a book. Or you have a draft of a book. Or you have an outline for a book. You desperately want to start writing or revising—but you can’t. Every time you open the document up on your computer, you just…can’t.What’s going on? Is there something wrong with you? Firstly: no. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re a writer. Welcome.Secondly: if you’re struggling with this, I’m here to help. With the caveat that every writer—and every book, and every situation—is entirely unique, here are four reasons you’re not writing your book.One: you are tired. Okay, be honest. Have you just finished writing a book? Have you just finished a big revision? Are you, like me, juggling three manuscripts at once and expecting them all to be perfect? It might be that you’re not writing your book because you’re creatively/physically/mentally tired.Solution? Rest! Seriously. Take a few days (or a few weeks) off writing. Let yourself do nothing. And I mean nothing. Give yourself a break.Two: you are tired of this book.If you’ve been working on this project intensely, you might just need a break from it. This is normal. It doesn’t mean you hate your book. It just means you need a bit of distance—the kind you need in all healthy relationships. Solution: take a break from this book. Write other books, or don’t write at all. Let yourself write in your notebook for no reason, or do random writing prompts. Whatever feels good to you. (Note: if you’re on deadline, you obviously can’t do this. But you can build tiny, aimless, daydreamy breaks into your day. Which I highly recommend.) Three: you don’t really want to write this book (anymore). Look, it happens. Sometimes you fall in love with an idea and then, 10,000 words in, you find yourself falling distinctly out of love with it. Sometimes you realise you actually don’t have the skills to pull a book off yet. Sometimes you just get bored. Solution: give yourself permission to put the manuscript aside for a little while. See how you feel. Are you missing it? Or not? Be honest. No book wants to be written by someone who doesn’t really want to write it. Four: you are terrified. You’re scared the revisions won’t pan out the way you want them to. You’re scared you don’t know how to make the changes the book needs. You’re scared your draft is going to be bad. You’re scared your mother/friend/sister is going to hate the book. You’re scared you’re in over your head. Etcetera. Solution: WRITE! Seriously. If you’re afraid of writing a book, you should definitely and absolutely write it. Fear is a good sign here. Write towards it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, write in short bursts of ten minutes, or make a list of revision items and do one a day. Just keep going.