What keeps you from writing that book?

[K.S.R.]

Hmmm?

[Sarita]

My reason seems to be threefold:

-the amount of time it would require
-the difficulty in committing to one of the many ideas I have for a book
-probably more than anything, the fear that after all that time and effort it might be poor to mediocre.

There you have it!

[Melissa]

Ah yes, fear. As writers we often need to challenge our self-doubt to a duel, don't we?

I am usually held up by the fact that the poems/books I want to write require bravery and delving into subject matter that I'm somewhat afraid of. But as one of my mentors asked me one day, "if not now, when?" Good question to consider--I pose it to myself daily.

[Dan]

I'm going to go with time and my remarkable ability to procrastinate rather than write.

[Jim]

I was in my mid-thirties before I sat down and wrote a book. Up until that point I pretty much stuck with poetry and I think it was probably the belief that that's what I was and all I could do. Poets write poems and novelists write … well, novels.

[K.S.R.]

Research. That's a good one, LunaWolf. That part slows me down, but I get lost in it and have so much fun learning that I realize I need to get back to writing.

[Tara]

I think I have a lot of the same reasons. Time (or lack of it) seems to be a big one for me. I also get distracted far too easily so I end up starting a lot of different story ideas and not following through. Also, fear. Definitely fear, but not so much fear of rejection, but more like fear of what my family and friends will think when they read what I have to say.

[Eddie]

I used to write short stories, and some have been published in magazine in my country, Indonesia. I also write some stories for my friends and my younger cousins.

I tried to write novel few times. But I met difficulties how to end the story. So, I think writing the end of the story keeps me from writing itself. :( Any suggestions for beginner like me?

[Rasheeda]

2 things have stopped me. I can never get a strong beginning, middle, and end. I usually have two out of three but not the whole piece.
However, I did finish my first children's book and now I have no idea how to go about getting it published. Do I just send drafts and a query letter to certain publishing companies in my area? I know so little about publishing, but I don't want my ignorance to stop me from doing something I really want to do. Help please.

[Mockingbird]

I've written it, but then the doubt creeps in, "Who would want to read what I wrote?"

[Karen]

I think we all have the fear that it won't sell as well as we think it should. That noone will read it or read it and come away disappointed.
The book I am afraid to write is about me, and my struggles with anxiety, and its effects on my life. It's supposed to have humor in it, because that is how I handle things, but still do I want to put all that out there?

[K.S.R.]

So what have you written, Gwendolyn? If it's written, then can you talk about the title? Maybe you could start with putting up a website.

[Mockingbird]

For Steph and K.S.R. Kingworth,

Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, I have a title, and since you're the moderator for this group, K.S.R., and you asked, I'll share it:
FIREFLIES OF HOPE: Finding Hope During Hard Times.
http://www.firefliesofhope.com

I think you're right, Steph, that people should decide for themselves. I still feel nervous, though, about getting the word out, or even trying to get it published! And, Steph, I think you are going to get inspired about something to write. Just write! For me, keeping a journal helped me get in the habit of writing and then voila! it became easier for me to write about other things.

I just write in my journal on the computer and save in in a file called 'MY JOURNAL'. You could also create a file called MY WRITING, and just start writing poetry, children's stories, non-fiction or whatever. It feels weird, but pretty soon things start to gel.
Inspiration will come to you. I just know it.

[Mockingbird]

Good one, Dan! Have you ever considered writing in the humor genre?

[K.S.R.]

I just looked at your website, Gwendolyn. I loved the article about Robert Downey Jr. overcoming his addiction.

Let me know when Fireflies of Hope comes out, will you? I love the title, by the way.

[Michele]

I have a four year old and an autistic 7 year old. I'm the grounding stone for the whole family and have to not only do normal family and house stuff, but I also have to keep a constant eye on emotions and frustrations to help keep my son balanced.

Oh, and blogs, message boards etc. Those are distracting ;)

[K.S.R.]

Wow, Michele. You've got plenty to keep you busy. Having an autistic child can be all-consuming. I'm sending many good wishes your way that you'll have the strength of mind and spirit you need day to day.

[Karen]

Leticia--Have you ever heard of Urbis? I believe there is a section for erotic LIT. www.urbis.com

[Stan]

For 3 years I used to get up at 4:30 in the morning and write for two hours before anyone else got up. I produced a first draft of a 400 plus page novel during this period. Then I read it and I wasn't sure I liked it. In fact, I was a little embarrassed about it. That was in the early 90's.

So I guess at this point, it is fear that I don't have it in me. When you combine that with the fact that I am afraid of NOT doing it, I am pretty messed up!

The other thing is life. Just got busy. But at the end of the day, I don't think that is a real excuse for me.

[Clare]

I am afraid that no matter how good it is it will never get published. Everywhere I read about how it is nearly impossible to get a first book published.

[Michele]

Bee- You just have to fight through it. And remember the point when writing the first draft is to get to "The End". You can always go back and change things later :) I usually have at least 3-4 drafts of anything I write to get it the way I like it. I don't even let other people see it until I've edited it three times.

[Michele]

Thank you KSR. Luckily my son is high functioning and we've finally found some of the outside support that we need. Things are coming together now, but it's been a fight.

[Michele]

Clare, That's not true. Debut authors get published all the time. Competition is stiff, but it does happen all the time. You have to have a combination of a good book, persistence and luck :)

[Lynn]

Sorry I'm not more active, but the search continues. At this point the only thing keeping me from going forward is the matter of finding the right artist to draw my stories. I'll know exactly who I want to use when I see how their work looks. I just placed a classified on an art site I'm on for an artist. It's been 3 days and I've gotten 5 responses so far. Helps that I have Ra's Warrior posted there too. I've always seen my story as a graphic novel. I'm set on this idea and have 2 artists who decided to draw a few scenes. Both from vastly different backgrounds. Be nice to find someone in US to work with, but have no problems working outside my continent. It's only a matter of time until Ra's Warrior is turned into a GN. I still have to nail down if I like Manga or DC/Marvel style art.... Heck, I'm 110 pages ahead of any artist, script-wise.
Lynn

[K.S.R.]

I'm sending good wishes your way, Lynn. You can consider me as one of your cheerleaders! That goes for each of you.

I know what it's like to feel the fear. I know what it's like to get stuck. I know what it's like to just do something else instead of write.

Nice to know we're in this together!