You say you want to write, but you don’t put words on paper or screen. Every day you say, “Today I will start my book (article, essay, or blog).” And by the time you go to bed, you haven’t completed even one sentence. Why don’t you write when you say you want to do so?
You do not suffer from writer’s block because it doesn’t exist. (So don’t even try using that excuse!) If you are like most wannabe writers or authors, one of the following five maladies stops you from churning out pages of finely crafted copy.
1. You lack passion.
If you don’t feel passionate about your subject matter, a high likelihood exists that you lack the motivation to follow through on your intentions to write. Passion drives the most successful people to complete any endeavor. They work long hours because they are interested in and emotionally invested in what they do. Whatever the task, if it relates to their passion, it doesn’t feel like work. The action that produces “the work” feels joyous and fulfilling. When you find a topic that lights you up inside, you’ll write.
2. You lack purpose.
If you don’t have a clear understanding of why you want to write, or why you want to write about a particular topic, your motivation levels will remain low. When you understand your purpose, you feel compelled to write—to fulfill that purpose. Answer the simple question “Why?” If your reason is a good one, you will write.
3. You don’t feel inspired.
This state typically means you are bored. You have chosen to write about a topic that isn’t on purpose for you or no longer serves your purpose. Your subject matter also may not line up with your passion. Passion and purpose combined generate inspiration. However, you can reignite your inspiration by remembering why you write (your purpose) or finding a topic about which you feel passionate.
4. You feel afraid.
You may feel afraid of failure, success, stepping into the limelight, playing big, or being heard (or read). You may have a fear that you don’t have anything to say, that no one will want to read your work or that someone will judge you. You may fear discovering that you aren’t good enough…
Fears aren’t real. They are figments of your imagination, but if you focus on them long enough you will manifest them in the physical world. If you don’t want them to stop you from putting fingers to the keyboard and producing a manuscript, focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want. Live your dream not your fear.
5. You don’t want to write badly enough.
Those who want to achieve their dreams do so. Those who say they want to achieve their goals but who take no action to move closer to the results they desire, simply do not want to achieve that goal—at least not enough to work hard, change, learn new skills, and do what is necessary. You may think you want to be a writer; it sounds so romantic! But you may not want to do what it takes to become a writer–things that lack romance altogether. Authorship might just be a nice idea.
If you say you want to write, but you don’t write, it’s time to evaluate yourself seriously. The reasons you haven’t written your article, essay, blog, or book have little to do with how much time you have, what’s going on in your life or any preconceived notion of what will happen if you do or don’t become successful. They have everything to do with you.
Are you passionate, on purpose, inspired, and courageous? Do you want to become a writer or author so badly that this desire consumes your thoughts? If so, you will write.
Photo courtesy of iko.
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