Category: Writing

The Magic Story Box

a guest post by author, Lynne Lumsden Green

One of the questions that plagues writers is ‘Where do you get your ideas from?’ Well, listen closely, for I am about to reveal the secret and give you the keys to the magic box. Most of my inspiration comes from … research and hard work.

Indeed. Stop rolling your eyes. Writers don’t have special brains that are open to messages sent from the Muses. What writers do is keep an open mind and read everything! And I do mean everything: the newspapers (your library or local coffee shop will have them), online articles, anthologies, biographies, novels, poetry, and textbooks.

This doesn’t have to be expensive. Your Aunty Janet is cleaning out her bookshelves? Ask if you can have her discards. Go to second-hand bookshops and buy up big. Join the library. At a pinch, watch television. Watch movies. Feed your subconscious with stories.

There is an old computer saying; Garbage in, garbage out. What it boils down to is that you can’t expect to get ideas in a mind with no input. Anyone who tells you that they can write a book without reading a book is deluded. How do they know what a three-act structure is compared to Freytag’s pyramid, if they haven’t read a book? How can they know what has already been done in their chosen genre? Do they even know what a genre is? The only way to get a feel for writing is by reading. It is also how you will get inspired with ideas.

So, say, while you are reading you come across a concept that captures your imagination. Write it down! Don’t think that it is so wonderful you will never forget it. Your brain will drop that shiny ball as soon as a something else catches its attention. I recommend carry a notebook and pen(s) everywhere. Over the course of a day, you might come across several of these pretty baubles.

The next time you sit down to write, read though your notebooks. You might see that two or more of your notes fit together like puzzle pieces. Just because you can see those links, don’t assume that everyone else can too. This is when the lighting is striking! Scribble down what you are thinking.

Look at that you have written. Does it make sense? Does it intrigue you? If it does, you have hit a seam of gold and go for it; write that story while it is still white hot in your brain.

However, most of the time, what you have is just the seed of a story. Don’t feel discouraged! You are already ahead of the game, with a starting point. You have the key, now it is up to you to turn it and open the magic box to a fully realised story. And like most things in real life, this means a bit of effort and persistence. Play with the idea. Have fun with it. No one ever has to see what you’ve put down.

Either way, you now have a first draft, and you’ve let the magic happen. There is now a story in the world that wasn’t there before you set it down. It will be rough and need some work to polish it, but you still have made something new under the sun. Revell in your god-like powers!

In summary, to tap into the magic story box you need to

  • Read;
  • Take notes;
  • Sit down and write.

You would be amazed at how many people forget about that third step. But you won’t, because you are a writer and have the keys to the magic story box.

A big thank you to Lynne for her wonderful article! You can learn more about Lynne or reach out to her at the below links.

Blog : https://cogpunksteamscribe.wordpress.com/

Facebook page: Steampunk Sunday, Brisbane Australia 

She can also be contacted via https://springfieldwritersau.weebly.com

Interview with an author – Lynne Lumsden Green

Welcome to another interview! Lynne Lumsden Green is an author who also runs a blog called Cogpunk Steamscribe. She happens to be a steampunk enthusiast and quite a fun lady!

Diana: Let’s start with the basics – tell us a little bit about you!

Lynne: Words to strike fear into every introvert’s heart. I have two bachelor degrees, one in Science (Zoology) and one in Arts – for Creative Writing, surprise, surprise. Wear a t-shirt with a cat and/or Doctor Who reference and we can be instant friends. I am enjoying the aging process more than I expected to. My hair changes colour on a daily basis. My collection of books has well and truly outgrown my bookcases.

Diana: A woman after my own heart! Was there a defining moment in your life when you realized you wanted to pursue writing as a potential career, or was it gradual?

Lynne: As soon as I was able to write, I started writing. I was seven. However, I was told that writing couldn’t be a career, and studied science at university. Still, I was writing ALL THE TIME. My second husband was the one who told me to stop ‘waiting’ for the right time to concentrate on writing, and supported me through my second degree (yes, I know I am very lucky).

Diana: So many writers struggle with getting the support they need from loved ones. It’s wonderful that your husband was so supportive! What was the first work you published? What were the easiest and hardest parts about it?

Lynne: My very first published piece was a short story for Semper, the University of Queensland student magazine. It was about the world running out of ‘souls’, and so no more babies were being born. It was inspired by my studies in Zoology and the extinction crisis looming in the future – and which we are now in the middle of. The hardest part was getting the courage up to submit it.

Diana: Making that first major submission is a huge step in every writer’s life. It took me too many years to build up the courage to pursue this life.

Do you have a favorite author? If it’s too hard to choose, who were some of the biggest influences to your writing?

Lynne: My favourite author is Terry Pratchett, hands down. However, I am not anywhere near as clever or witty. I love Angela Slatter, Neil Gaiman, Diana Wynne Jones, and Anne McCaffrey, and have all they inspired me to find my own voice. But Isaac Asimov was the person who caught my attention when I was eight, and made me the huge fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy that I am today.

Diana: The Foundation series helped me to discover my love of Sci-Fi. My father told me for years that I should read it – I wish I had sooner!

Do you like to write in the same genres that you read?

Lynne: I read everything! We are living in a time when genre classifications are all over the place, changing, growing, conflating, so limiting your reading would limit your ability to find the stuff you love. I love reading graphic novels, textbooks, novels, anthologies … in every genre, including big ‘L’ literature. I write creative nonfiction, adult fairy tales, a little horror, and science fiction. So, I guess the short answer is ‘No!’, I don’t write in all the genres I read.

Diana: I feel that in order to write in a genre, you should certainly have read in that genre. But there are plenty of genres I’ve read that I have yet to touch upon in my writing. I may love to read one thing, but not be all that good at writing it. Plus, like you, my interests are way too varied to stick with any one genre alone.

What is the best and the worst advice you’ve received about the writing process?

Lynnne: The best advice I ever got was to never give up. Just keep writing, even if only for yourself. I go screwy if I don’t write. However, it has taken me a while to get the confidence up to send more than one piece off at a time. Now I submit work weekly, to a dozen different markets.

The worst advice? That you have to write in a certain way, or you will fail. Every writer has a different method. If you try to fit every writer into a standard box, you will make the writers unhappy and produce a hecken pile of shoddy writing.

Diana: Agreed! New writers looking for advice would do well to take everything they hear with a grain of salt. Trial and error is the best way to find what works for each individual.

Do you have any writing rituals or are you comfortable writing anytime and anywhere?

Lynne: I tend to write at my desk in my office. I try to write every day. But I also take a notebook and pen with me everywhere, because you just never know when a good idea will hit.

Diana: But you can practically guarantee that if you DON’T have something to write your ideas on or in, inspiration will certainly strike.

Now then, if you could choose any other profession outside of the writing world, what would it be?

Lynne – Astronaut! And while I am fantasizing, can I have a horse stud as well?

Diana: Of course! It’s a writer’s prerogative! So, how do you find balance between your writing time and your job / personal life?

Lynne: I always put my family first, since they are so supportive of my writing career. When I am in a job, I still find the time to write a couple of hours a day. Currently, I am between jobs, so I’m doing volunteer work in the writing community.

Diana: It’s so important to have either a solid writing schedule, or if unable to for whatever reason, to at least have goals to work towards daily or weekly.

When it comes to research – are you a lover or a hater?

Lynne: Lover! I find researching details for my stories often leads me to discover information I never knew before, and will make my writing so much more interesting. I know most people research for verisimilitude, which is where I start, but I tend to get distracted and will have fifteen tabs open before I realize it. Sometimes you just can’t make this stuff up, it’s so good.

Diana: I have come up with so many ideas while researching for other stories! Sometimes I can even tweak the story I’m working on to squeeze in fun new things I discover. I’m not a stickler for adhering to outlines.

What about you? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Lynne: Plotter, with Pantser tendencies once I am well into the story. I start with a timeline for most of my Steampunk stories, to get the characters and the science right. But I’m open to following the story when it leads me down a different path. As an example, in my current work-in-progress of my short stories, one of my protagonists evolved from ambiguous character into a solid team player.

Diana: I love when that happens! Now, the question most people hate….. have you read all of the books you own?

Lynne: Yes, except for my too-be-read pile, which isn’t too out of control. I might not have read the entire book in some cases, particularly with some of the more obscure textbooks. I have read every grammar book I own, and all the fiction books.

Diana: I am thoroughly impressed….and a bit envious. What do you do for fun?

Lynne: Does reading count as fun? Apart from that, I like to draw, bead jewelry, and make my own Steampunk cosplay clothes and gadgets. I also enjoy gardening.

Diana: I used to bead jewelry as well and have always loved to draw. Reading shall ALWAYS count as fun and anyone who disagrees is just plain wrong! Speaking of reading, what were your favorite books as a child?

Lynne: As a toddler, it was the Disney version of ‘Peter Pan’. I loved all the Narnia books, ‘The Five Children and It’, ‘The Wind in the Willows’ and all the Silver Brumby books. But the stand-out would have to be ‘I Robot’ by Isaac Asimov; I read that when I was eight and became enraptured with Science Fiction.

Diana: I still haven’t read the original Peter Pan, which is obviously quite different from the Disney version, but it’s on my list!

What main project or projects are you currently working on?

Lynne: I have two goals for 2019. One is my yearly goal of achieving 100 rejections, which is getting harder as more of my stuff is accepted. My second goal is to finish a draft of my current novel, a Steampunk adventure set in the Regency era.

Diana: That’s exciting – on both sides! I saw your article providing tips on submitting fiction works on the Well-Storied blog and it was certainly inspiring. Aiming for rejections is a wonderful and unique way to look at the process!

Do you have any projects already planned for the near future?

Lynne: Always! I am in the process of drafting several short stories for future anthologies. And after the Steampunk novel, I will be working on a novel set in Brisbane, with evil entities inhabiting trains.

Diana: I can’t wait! Before we wrap up, what is something readers may not know about you?

Lynne: I am a diehard Doctor Who fan, and I like both Star Wars and Star Trek. I (not so) secretly would love a gig writing Doctor Who novels. I want to meet Peter Capaldi, but I can’t promise I’d give him back.

Elemental

I am a member of the Springfield Writers Group, and we just released our second anthology, Elemental. It went to number one on Amazon!

I hope to have a pet alpaca at some point.

Diana: After reading Strange Topaz Sheep from Elemental, I wouldn’t mind having one for myself! How can people learn more about you and your work?

Lynne: My blog is : https://cogpunksteamscribe.wordpress.com/

I run Steampunk Sunday, Brisbane Australia on Facebook.

I can also be contacted via https://springfieldwritersau.weebly.com

A huge thanks to Lynne for her time with this interview! Be sure to subscribe so you can get notifications when future articles, interviews and even reviews (coming soon) get posted!

How Long Should it Take to Write Your Novel?

Have you ever heard of NaNoWriMo? November is National Novel Writing Month. When one participates in NaNoWriMo, the goal is this: “On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30”.

The goal is not necessarily to complete a polished masterpiece in 30 days, but to serve as a launching point and to give you a public goal of getting your first draft, or at least the first 50k words of one, down on paper. Seem a little too daunting?

NaNoWriMo

Maybe you feel more comfortable tackling one of the dozens of “write a novel in 90 days” programs? Many of these challenges get your idea all the way from brain to market in just three short months. Does this time frame still seem a little too rushed for you?

There are authors out there who can crank out a novel every six months or so. So if you can’t even get one measly novel written over the course of a full year, what good are you as a writer?

PLENTY.

Your worth as a writer and value as an author are NOT determined by how quickly you can crap out a book. There is no defined timeline you are required to follow in order to qualify as an author, no matter what anyone says.

If these fast-track programs work for you, that’s fantastic! Or maybe it works for one of your novels, but not the next. I’m not knocking these challenges in the least. But they won’t work for EVERYONE and they won’t necessarily work ALL OF THE TIME. The issue arises when writers, especially first-time novelists, feel they have to finish their book within a specific time frame. If they don’t, they often become discouraged. Has that ever happened to you?

Guess what? I have a life outside of my writing. I’ll give you a moment to compose yourselves after the shock……

I’m sorry for putting you through that emotional distress. Unless, of course, you have a life too. Writing is my passion and I do it as often as I can. But I also have a day-job. And a child. And, dare I say it, other interests!

 I have a few novel ideas (get it? NOVEL cuz they are good ideas, but cuz they are also concepts for NOVELS! I’ll stop now. Please forgive me.), but there is one that I have been focusing on first. I also have other writing-related projects I’m working on, along with other interests that I work into my days as time permits.

For a long time I would guilt myself for working on anything but my novel. And you may have realized already that guilt is not the best motivator. It often turns into a vicious cycle where you feel guilty for not producing, but then can’t produce because you are depressed from the guilt trip you are subjecting yourself to.

Personally, I prefer to have multiple writing projects going simultaneously. If I hit a snag on one piece, I can switch to another. I like to write in various styles as well – short stories, flash fiction, poems (not nearly as often), etc. I also enjoy entering contests, responding to Twitter prompts, and working on my blog and author platform across social media.

I recently started Alpha and Beta reading for others and discovered a true passion for it. I intend on offering these services soon to a broader audience, so stay tuned!

In addition to simply enjoying various styles and genres, I’ve found that shorter pieces of writing keep me motivated while working on my long-term novel goals. Not only are contests and shorter stories excellent practice, but I get quick gratification. The consistent sense of accomplishment goes a long way in pushing me ever forward.

Aside from reading and writing, I like to play games. Video games, apps on my phone, board games and so on. I like all things artsy, so do many crafting and design projects. Most of these take a backseat to my writing as it is my favorite thing to do, but it’s not the ONLY thing I like to do.

I know that all of these other projects are slowing down my novel’s progress, but THAT IS OK! I was pushing myself to finish the book quickly, not only for myself, but because I felt pressured by the internet to do so. I would find myself wondering things like, “What will people say two years from now if I STILL haven’t finished that novel I keep talking about?”

It took a lot of self-reflection before I finally came to the conclusion that I don’t care anymore. It’s MY book and I can finish it whenever I see fit and it’s no one else’s business how long it takes. I’ll never turn down reminders and encouragement from friends and family, but to let myself be pressured by invisible internet entities is just stupid.

Again, I know the fast-track programs have good intentions and that they work for a lot of people. But I have a lot going on personally and professionally right now, so to push myself too hard will do nothing to ease my stress. Life happens and you gotta go with the flow.

It’s ok to go at your own pace. I am no less dedicated and no less of a writer because my novel is not always my number one priority. I’m just as serious about my writing as others – my perseverance is simply spread over many works.

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Now don’t go running back to your friends or family or other supporters and say, “Diana said I don’t have to work hard on my novel, so quit pushing me.” You need to spend time thinking about WHY your progress is slow.

Life shouldn’t be an excuse to not write if writing is your passion. You still need to make time and you still need to actually write, even when you don’t feel like it. If you are procrastinating, you need to find out why (check out my article, “Top 5 Fears of Writers and How to Vanquish Them”) so that you can do something about it.

Once I gave myself permission to be ok with taking longer to finish my novel than what others may feel is an appropriate length of time, I felt a huge weight lifted. Working on what I want, when I want, has been so liberating!

I still have deadlines, whether self-imposed or not. And I do my best to get as much writing time in that I can. But if I miss a day, or if it takes years to finish my novel, I refuse to beat myself up about it.    

Writing any poem, story, novel or anything else is only a race if you make it one. You are the Main Character in your own writing adventure. Make the most of it!

Most people have dreams – that’s plural. I’m not chasing after just one target. Setting multiple goals is both healthy and rewarding.

I have grown so much over my writing journey thus far and my goals have expanded throughout the process. I’ve discovered more interests and have met some amazing people. I’d rather have a lot of smaller victories over time to keep me going along the slower more scenic route to each goal. If I exhaust myself by racing to the finish line, the accomplishment may be less satisfying and I’d risk missing all the joys and opportunities along the way.

I’m in it for the long haul. If you are too, I encourage you to enjoy the ride, no matter which road it takes you down.

Where Do Writers Get Their Ideas?!

This is one of the most common questions authors receive in interviews and lecture Q and As. Have you ever wondered where “the greats” get their ideas? Or perhaps you are having a creative slump and are desperately searching for your next big story. So how does one come up with ideas?

I can only speak for myself and Stephen King when I say: WHAT IF? Ever since I was a child, almost every story I have written stemmed from asking myself this question. Imagine my absolute delight when I read On Writing by Stephen King for the first time (many years ago) and discovered that he often employs the same technique.

“The most interesting situations can usually be expressed as a What-if question.”

– Stephen King, On Writing

Not only is this an almost guaranteed way to come up with at least one viable concept, but it’s incredibly easy. You start with a singular moment or person or object, then spin it into any number of stories or sub-plots within a single story. And before you start saying, “yeah but that won’t work in MY situation”, this can work for any person and for any genre. Here are some of the ways I come up with my story plots and concepts.

#1 – Writing Prompts

Let’s start with the most obvious. I’m sure you are very aware of the extensive number of websites providing free writing prompts. What I challenge you to do is to look at them in a different light than you have before. Start by asking WHAT IF? Are you a horror writer, so you only search for horror prompts? WHAT IF you look up Romance instead? Man and Woman fall in love, then Woman gets an incurable disease and dies. Pretty well-known plot point, right?

WHAT IF the Man, distraught by the death of his love, slowly sinks into a state of psychosis? WHAT IF he starts seeing things and starts to wonder if he’s going crazy or if the Woman is haunting him? WHAT IF because of that, we start finding out sordid details of his past? And so on and so on.

The concept is gloriously simple – just one WHAT IF followed by another and another until you are suddenly cascading into a brainstorming/writing spree. This is part of what I call the “The Snowball Effect” (my guest blog post on this topic will debut on Well-Storied on May 27, 2019). Your final plot or scene may in no way resemble what you started with, and that’s ok! WHAT IF just serves to get those creative synapses firing.

“The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

– Albert Einstein

Please don’t underestimate writing contests either. These serve as perfectly good prompts for any genre (using the technique above), whether the contest is expired or not. New contests are always popping up, so even if you have no desire to enter the actual contest, it can still be an excellent catalyst.

For quick prompts, you can do a simple search engine check, or hit up your favorite blogs and writing websites. Pinterest is also a great place to try (plus you can save the ideas easily for future use). I have a board dedicated to writing prompts that you can find HERE.

Pictures and images are also excellent prompts – start by trying to tell the story of what is going on in the image and run with it from there. I post contest links, both written and picture prompts, quotes and more in my Facebook group regularly (example below), so come join us!

When you were nine years old, your best friend disappeared while you were all playing hide-and-seek. The police never turned up any leads. Today is your 30th birthday and you just received a card that could only have come from your missing friend.

#2 – On The Road

How much time do you spend in some type of vehicle? Commutes to and from work or school, for business travel, for vacation, etc.? The time can really add up, so make more use of it! (Just remember to pay attention to the road above all else if you are the driver – PSA box is now checked off my list.)

  • What is up with the paint job on that car – is that on purpose?
  • The driver behind you is acting strangely…. (starting with a similar thought helped me to come up with my story The Lady In The Trunk)
  • Bumper stickers can really tell you a lot about a person….
  • Names of businesses and license plates (I saw a license plate that started with Ila, then a van drove by for Patterson’s something or another. My character Ila Patterson was born from this. Though her name later changed for various reasons, I still got a short story out of it that is in my first Amazon collection, along with The Lady In The Trunk.)
  • What nefarious thing could be in that trash bag on the side of the road, or in the waist-high grass overtaking the median? Maybe a dead body….
  • The roads and highways are littered with billboards and electronic signs. What if one day the sign’s message issued a threat instead of a warning?
  • Stuck in traffic? What could happen that would change your life in an instant? Maybe giant creatures appearing or a massive sinkhole opens up or an alien invasion or the sun disappears or…….
  • Songs on the radio sure do tell a great story, but what if the lyrics were changed just a little?

#3 – At Work or School

  • Did your co-worker or classmate say or do something incredibly stupid yet again? Did someone maybe get a little out of control at the office/class party?
  • Boring posters and message boards you regularly ignore could hold a wealth of ideas. That workers comp poster could lead to some interesting stories….
  • Does a teacher lecture or corporate meeting have you practically comatose? Wouldn’t it be great if they just stopped talking? WHAT IF they suddenly collapsed and now everyone in the room is a suspect?
  • Is the water cooler or snack machine secretly out to get you?
  • Maybe that mom sitting by the window gave her child the kid’s meal she ordered, but you put the wrong toy in there. Her kid starts screaming at the top of his lungs and the mom was clearly already at the end of her rope when she walked in. WHAT IF this was her breaking point – how would she react?

#4 – Personal Life

  • What movies or TV shows left you dissatisfied? WHAT IF the episode or series or movie had ended differently….
  • News stories, whether you get them from the newspaper, online, or news networks, are a plethora of stories waiting to be twisted to suit your writing needs!
  • People-watching is as popular as ever and serves as a great way to not only get story ideas by asking WHAT IF, but also provides visuals that you can use later when describing your character’s physical attributes.
  • Nature and Science documentaries open doors to crazy creatures and freaky phenomena that are often outlandish enough to be used as is, but combining some of these ideas into a single plot or scene can be even better.
  • Tired of watching happy-go-lucky cartoon programming with your children all day? Do you groan every time they ask you to read them that same boring bedtime story? WHAT IF that ending was not so full of sunshine and rainbows? Or WHAT IF it was retold as an adult story – what would change?
  • If you’re spending your weekend doing mind-numbing chores and errands, what could make these things easier? A fancy invention? Or maybe no one does these things in the future anymore – but why not?
  • Just looking for some character names or good names for plants or animals in your next work? Honestly, I have come up with plenty by looking at word searches. Random letter combinations that appear can make for excellent names
  • Social Media! What about all that time you spend scrolling through Tweets, Pins, Facebook feeds and Instagram posts? How many of these can you take and transform for either character building or plot development?
  • Texting typos have given me some doozies. There are a ton of these fail examples to be found online if you aren’t into texting yourself. Not long ago I tried to text my son that we were “turning into driveway” so he could unlock the door. Instead, it came out as “turning into Dubai”. Cue the potential espionage story my brain skittered off to. I won’t even go into my phone changing “mouse traps” into “morse tarfoya”…..

#5 – Public Domain

In case you are unsure of what this is, the dictionary defines it as: “the state of belonging or being available to the public as a whole, and therefore not subject to copyright.”

There are many websites out there with public domain lists. You can surf through the lists of stories, films and artwork with expired copyrights to get ideas for your own stories. Even if your final work ends up being so far removed from the original that copyright would not be an issue anyway, it’s still a valuable launching point.

This is especially exciting now in 2019. To make a long story short, a 20 year freeze was placed on releasing copyrights in the late 90s. Since then, nothing published after 1922 that was copyrighted would become part of the public domain. But as of Jan. 1, 2019, the hiatus ended and the copyrights of 1923 are now available.

PUBLIC DOMAIN DAY 2019 WELCOMES 1923!

You may think 1923 was too long ago to hold any interest for you, but I urge you to check out the list before dismissing it. There are some interesting releases available from that year including (but not limited to) titles by Agatha Christie, Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway, H.P. Lovecraft, H.G. Wells, and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Don’t stop there! Look for works that are set to be available to the public domain in the next few years so that as soon as they are released, you already have a story close to or ready for publication. Do be cautious putting extensive work into this though, as another freeze could go into effect and put a halt to your plans.

These are by no means the only ways you can get ideas, but maybe they can give you a place to start or a way to get over a hump. Hopefully you’ve started thinking of your surroundings in a different way, even if you have used some of these tactics before.

Keep your eyes peeled and your mind open, no matter what situation you find yourself in. Let your imagination run free! If it needs a little push to get the motor running, just ask yourself, “WHAT IF?”

Do you have other strategies for brainstorming ideas? Let me know in the comments below!

Top 5 Fears of Writers and How to Vanquish Them

Have you experienced any of these feelings when you think about writing or when you actually sit down to create?

  • Anger
  • Depression
  • Denial
  • Bargaining
  • Acceptance

Well, my friend, this is actually the list of the 5 most common stages of grief or loss. Not everyone experiences all of them, nor do they necessarily come in any specific order. While traveling the road to becoming an author, I found that these are also common emotions when approaching writing as either a hobby or as a career.

Perhaps for you, anger rears its ugly head when you are constantly interrupted during the time you set aside to write. Or when you do finally write something but after reading over it, you are convinced it is the worst piece of garbage to ever curse a page. On the other hand, if you managed to submit a piece that you are proud of just to be turned down over and over again, it can be rage-inducing.

Depression can take hold when you feel incapable of writing at a level that would be considered publishable, or are receiving rejection letters more often than a Kardashian graces the cover of Yahoo news. Some aspiring writers mistakenly believe that they are either too young or too old to have any kind of presence in the writing community.

Let’s be honest here. If you tell everyone that the reason you haven’t completed your story yet is because you don’t have enough time or money (and have even managed to convince yourself of that) you are probably in denial.

Do you beg and plead with your muse to bless you with just one viable idea? Because if they do, you promise to never ask them for anything ever again! Or you may even bargain with yourself, swearing that as soon as you build on that perfect original idea you had that’s never been done before, you’ll drop everything else and write that book.

Maybe you have gone through some of these steps already and have finally concluded that you just aren’t good enough and you might as well just throw in the towel instead of repeatedly trying and failing for eternity.

Guess what? You are not alone. I repeat, you are not alone.

One more time for the people in the back, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Having any (or all) of these feelings is normal. And the best part about the whole mess is that you CAN overcome these challenges. But in order to succeed, you first need to identify what the real issue is that holds you back. Only then can you tackle them effectively. So, let’s talk about the most common fears that aspiring writers face and what you can do about it.

“Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.”    – Bethany Hamilton

Fear of Failure and/or Rejection

First thing first – stop comparing yourself to other writers, especially the Stephen Kings and J.K. Rowlings of the world. Everyone starts somewhere. If you are concerned that your grammar skills are lacking – there’s an app for that! Joking aside, there are apps and websites a-plenty, as well as some editors that can help (in general, editors prefer as clean a copy as possible – the more work they need to put in, the more they will need to charge). Just because your particular education may not have ended in a degree from an Ivy League school, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tell your story.

Everyone has something worthwhile to say. Do not make the mistake of assuming what others MIGHT think about your work. There are billions of people out there – if you can tell me what they are all thinking at any given time, we need to get in touch because I have a proposition for you.

Along these same lines, is something called Imposter Syndrome. If you have never heard of it, Wikipedia explains it this way:

Impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts his or her accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud”.

This is a very real fear plaguing many writers, regardless of experience or how many books they have under their belts. Please know that this should not keep you from your dreams! Work hard and celebrate your accomplishments, whether it be as glorious as publishing a book or simply hitting your word count goal for the day. If you enjoy writing, just do it and don’t worry about the naysayers out there. I also recommend you check out this great article about dealing with Imposter Syndrome by Kristen Kieffer.

Have you ever thought, “I start things but I never finish”? This is not a race. Never compare your journey to others, though admittedly, this can be a difficult thing to resist. I see so many programs out there designed to help a writer get their book written in just a few months, which is great! But while that may work for some people when accountability is their main concern, there is no law stating your book has to be completed in any specific time frame (unless you signed a contract).

Deadlines can be extremely helpful and are often vital, regardless of being mandated by others or self-imposed. Write at a pace that works for you and your current situation. It may take longer, but it will get done. As your life situation changes, keep updating your goals. Things will not always be as they are right this minute.

Additionally, there’s a first time for everything! Make this the first time you followed through with a major goal. Why do you “never finish anything”? Often it is due to this fear or failure (please see subheading for this section, hint hint). Though less common, fear of success is also a legitimate problem. Find the “why” behind your history of incomplete projects, then attack that specific problem to change the pattern!

Inexperienced or Too Experienced

Let me get this straight – You’ve never written a book before, so no one will take you seriously or care about what you have to say? In 1590, Shakespeare had never written a play before. In 1761, Mozart had never composed music before. In the 1930’s, Andy Warhol had never painted before. Are you catching my drift here?

Everyone starts somewhere and at one point, every single person has done everything for the first time. Just because you haven’t done a particular thing before, does not mean you shouldn’t give it at least one solid try. Besides, how in the world do you plan on gaining experience if you never do anything about it?

Maybe I misunderstood – it’s not that you are too young, right? It’s because you are “too old” to start any kind of writing career. Wrong again. Your life experiences are invaluable regardless of the genre you choose to delve into. I’m not saying that 40 is old (heaven knows I’m crawling right up on that particular milestone), but it seems frighteningly common for people to think it too old an age to start down the writing path.

If you were unaware, James A. Michener wrote 40 books AFTER the age of 40, thank you very much. Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book, Little House in the Big Woods, at the age of 64. Millard Kaufman (a co-creator of the endearingly befuddled Mr. Magoo) did not publish his first novel until he was 90 years old. Besides, 50 is the new 40, or so I hear.

Not Enough Time

Yes, I’m sure you’ve heard this a hundred times, but I’m telling you again in hopes that it sticks this time. If you have a way to record your thoughts and as little as 30 seconds to spare, you can create. You don’t have to sit down in front of a fancy laptop for 4 hours a day so you can churn out a masterpiece.

Frequent advice I’ve heard (if you can call it that) is that if you want to be a writer, you just have to “make time”. I agree and disagree, respectively.

Not everyone can just “make time”. Lives are more hectic today than ever before and society is riddled with obligations. School, work (possibly multiple jobs), children’s extracurricular activities, errands, and so on can take up a great deal of time. If you are at a point in your life where you GENUINELY cannot spare just a few minutes daily, then that perfectly is ok. Don’t beat yourself up about it!

However, can you actually make the time, but have convinced yourself that you can’t? Don’t give up just because you can’t carve out an hour or more at a time. You do, though, need to be honest with yourself. Can you actually write for 20 minutes instead of watching one more episode of that series you are binge-watching? Can you get up 5 or 10 minutes sooner to write down a few thoughts before the day begins?

People commonly feel as though they don’t have enough time, but if they take a few minutes to sit down and really think about what they are currently doing with their time, they often discover that there are more free minutes hiding away than they previously believed.

I was in this same category not too long ago, so I decided to take a serious look at where I was spending my time. It turns out that I regularly managed to find time to watch YouTube videos (“I need some downtime”) and play games on my phone (“it’s just a couple of levels”), among many other time-killers I discovered lurking in my timeline. What I had actually been doing was procrastinating because of fear, but I was masking it by telling myself I was “just too busy”. Perhaps you can relate?

Try to think about other times when you can squeeze in some writing (or record yourself on your phone or other device if you do not have the ability to physically write or type anything at the moment) like the ones I have listed below. If you do not have time to sit down and write daily, you can still do some brainstorming! Not only does brainstorming save you time when you are finally able to take time out to write, but it keeps those creative juices flowing.

  • During those long commutes to and from work/school
  • Breaks at work or in between classes
  • While you are sitting on hold for that dreaded conference call or with the utility company
  • While you take a shower or bath
  • When you are doing dishes, folding the laundry, mowing the lawn, etc.
  • Waiting in the long drop-off line at your child’s school/daycare/activity

Originality

Your basic concept isn’t original. I’m sorry, but it had to be said. There is a very slim chance that your story is completely original, so you can just put that fear to bed right now, kiss it goodnight and lock the door on your way out.

“I think new writers are too worried that it has all been said before. Sure it has, but not by you.” – Asha Dornfest

What makes your writing shine is YOU: Your unique perspective on life and your special voice. Take that idea and spin it every which way from Sunday to tell your story in the way that only you can. THAT is what makes a good story. At its core, your concept generally will and SHOULD fall into some type of category. All major novels and movies can be broken down into basic elements – elements that define a genre.

So don’t toss your bad-boy-falls-for-good-girl story (Grease; a great many romance novels), the epic adventure of a special chosen one (Harry Potter; Lord of the Rings) or lone survivor idea (Castaway; I Am Legend) out the window. Change the setting, the time period, the characters – whatever you can to make it your own.

Publishing a Book is Too Expensive

You’d be surprised! Technically, you can do it for free, providing you have computer access and the internet. But if you are in need of professional editing or cover design, yes, it will cost a little more. Try putting aside a few dollars each month (it helps to have a budget clearly laid out), or instead of buying something else you had been wanting (like that bag of cookies), put that money in a jar or in a savings account.

There genuinely are plenty of people who truly live paycheck to paycheck (myself included) and have already reduced their expenses to the barest of bones. I’m not saying professionals should give all of their services away for free (we all need to make money), but the ones that really push you to buy their programs because it’s a low, low price of $497 with a value of over $5,000 frustrate me. Not everyone has an extra ten or twenty dollars a month, even though that amount may seem insignificant to others.

BUT, with a little extra time and effort, you can still live your dream!

There are so many free resources online that help you every step of the way, from how to get started writing, to publishing and marketing your book. You can self-publish for free as well (an example is on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing). Look around online and in your town for reading/writing groups and also seek out references for free or cheap assistance with editing or design. Even better, see if any of your friends or family members possess any of these skills.

I have been through a lot of webinars/courses,etc. and an am avid researcher, but I know that is not everyone’s cup of tea. Just be willing to reach out to people for advice and assistance. I am on Twitter (@MyWriteAffair) and have a Facebook Group that I invite you to be a part of(FB groups are a great way to be involved in the community and get answers to your writing questions). I’m even on Pinterest and Instagram!

My desire is to help you through your writing journey and possibly save you from some of the roadblocks that can get in your way, or at least help you to get over the ones that are unavoidable. Feel free to comment below, or reach out to me via my social media if you have any thoughts or questions.

You can vanquish any and all of these most common fears aspiring writers suffer from. You just need the burning desire and the will to try. Be a writing warrior!

Do you have any topic suggestions for future posts?