| A huge majority of the population has dreamed | | | | 1) Go grab a calendar. |
| of writing a book and yet most will never fulfill | | | | 2) Schedule in time to write, even if it means |
| this dream. The reason is not lack of talent. No | | | | waking up earlier or going to sleep later. |
| the cause behind this is simple gut wrenching fear. | | | | 3) Tell your most supportive friends and family |
| Here are the top reasons why people do not | | | | what you are doing and ask them to direct you |
| write their best selling novel: | | | | back to your work if they see you get up ten |
| 1) Fear of Failure - this is the what if no one likes | | | | times for coffee and bathroom breaks. |
| it excuse. You get so caught up in what family, | | | | 4) Take the phone of the hook. Shut down your |
| friends and publishers think that you find every | | | | cell phones. And do not answer the door during |
| excuse on the planet not to sit down to write. | | | | your scheduled writing time. You can always pick |
| 2) The I Don't have enough time excuse - This is | | | | up that all important package from the postman |
| just a sneakier version of the previous excuse. | | | | at the post office at a more convenient time. |
| You use your supposed lack of time to mask | | | | 5) Make this important. This needs to be as |
| your underlying fear. Let's look at this one closely. | | | | important as your work deadlines. It has to be as |
| I'll bet you have time to watch your favorite | | | | important as getting your kids to soccer practice, |
| television show, sit for coffee at Starbucks with | | | | ballet and Tae Kwan Do. You do a ton of things |
| your friends and talk on the phone complaining | | | | for others, allow yourself this one thing for |
| about this that and the other. You would be | | | | yourself. |
| amazed at how much time we waste during the | | | | Finally, I hear the last excuse that you do not |
| day. | | | | know what to write about. When I hear this one I |
| For those of you with this excuse, do yourself a | | | | laugh until my sides hurt. Every single place that |
| favor. Buy a journal and honestly write down | | | | you go to. Every place that you look. Every thing |
| everything you do in a day. Mark down every | | | | that you read is a possible story. |
| phone conversation that is not business related | | | | 1) Pick up a newspaper. Find inspiration from what |
| and put the actual amount of time you spent on | | | | you find in the news. |
| that call. Write down exactly how many hours | | | | 2) Surf the net. Find outrageous stories to spark |
| you spend in a day watching television. And make | | | | your imagination. |
| a note of how much time you spend at your local | | | | 3) Go to your local café and just observe |
| coffee shop. Then give yourself a mental slap and | | | | people. I love coming up with stories based on the |
| get to work. | | | | people I see there. I do not approach them. I |
| There are dozens of other excuses out there - I | | | | simply allow my imagination to come up with their |
| am too old, I am too busy raising my kids, I am | | | | back stories and mentally picture which couples |
| too tired after work. These excuses will lead you | | | | will come together in my story. |
| to only one place in life. Imagine that you are | | | | 4) Go to the library and read your favorite genre |
| ninety years old, looking back on your life. Do you | | | | to see if there is a formula that is often used. |
| want a list of regrets or accomplishments? | | | | Writing your first novel is easy - once you get |
| If your answer is dream fulfillment then: | | | | out of your own way. |