Don't Let Fear Stop You From Writing Your Book

If you aren’t writing your book–or doing what it takes to get published–because of some fear you have, there are ways to move through your fear. So, don’t add new fears to your list: fear that you can’t move through your fear and fear that you’ll never become a published author.

I always remember what Rebbe Nachman of Breslov taught. He said, “Know that the human being must traverse a very, very narrow bridge and the most important principle is that he should not make himself afraid at all.” Notice the words in bold.

Are you making yourself afraid? Yes. We all do this with our thoughts. If you feel afraid check out what you are thinking about. Then change your thoughts. How? By thinking about something else.

Now imagine that life is like walking on a narrow bridge, as Rebbe Nachman suggests…one of those rope bridges hanging between two ravines. You do it every day and hardly think about it. You walk along the bridge with not too much fear–at least most of the time. You don’t think scary, fearful thoughts. Once you visualize your daily path as a bridge swinging over thin air, however, you might actually start feeling afraid. After all, a slat might break at any moment sending you plummeting to your death.

Now imagine that the path to publication requires walking on the same type of narrow bridge. Scary, huh? That’s just a thought. And a thought can be changed. Picture a different type of bridge–the Golden Gate Bridge or the George Washington Bridge (into the heart of some pretty great publishing communities). Know that the bridge will hold you. Think courageous thoughts. Can you walk across the bridge now?

Better yet, know that your goal lies at the other side. Picture that….you with a book in hand, standing there with your publisher, lunching with your agent, going to a book signing…

You must have faith. Think Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade. You step out and there is that solid bridge you were wanting…

Nothing to fear but fear itself. So simply stop thinking about fear. It really is that simple.

Here’s the clip from Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.