119: The Five Excuses People Make To Not Write.

Millions of people desire to write their book, start their blog, or write for a magazine. Most people don’t know what to write, or simply make excuses for not getting the job done.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the excuses writers make to not put pen to paper and let the words flow. We’re going to answer these common frustrations and help you get on the road to writing the book or starting a blog of your dreams.

For years I made excuses for not writing my blog or starting my book. I would begin a book, get distracted, or find a reason to not actually pursue that dream. I felt that I was inadequate or that I simply wasn’t good enough to write my book.

Truth to tell, nothing could be further from reality. God has given me a voice and I, in a sense, told God I couldn’t be worthy enough of that message. But after much soul search and advice from a dear writer friend, I sat down and finished my book.

We all make excuses for why we’re not writing and today we put an end to them once and for all.

1. I don’t have enough time to write.

Ever try and take time out of the day for something that you want to do? We all have those moments, but they come so few and far between we give up and stop living life. In a sense, if you were to take time to write your book you feel as if you’re being selfish and taking much needed time away from your family to pursue your dream.

Sound familiar?

We all have 168 hours a week or 24 hours in a day. The question I ask, how are you utilizing your time? Best selling author, John Grisham wrote A Time to Kill in his spare time going from court case to court case. He’d steal away a few minutes at lunch in his car with a legal pad and pencil and began writing away.

What is stopping you from writing? If it’s time, find a place in your day where you can steal away a few minutes a day to write. If you write just 250 words a day, you’ll have a novel just long enough in about 2.5 years. What can you do?

• Cut out TV.
• Write during lunch.
• Write after everyone goes to bed.

The goal – just write and make the time.

2. I don’t have technical computer skills.

Not everyone is a James Bond when it comes to gadgets and technology. In fact, he even had his issues when Q gave him the instructions on how to use such gear.

I talked with someone recently at a seminar I spoke at and they have trouble with computers and don’t know what they’re doing. My answer was simple. I said, “If you’re having trouble with using a computer and technology to write, use a legal pad, notebook, or journal to write down your words.

It’s a misnomer that you need to use Scrivener, MS Word, Evernote, or other writing software. Many best selling books were all handwritten on a yellow legal pad, first. James Patterson is a prime example. He never touches a computer. He writes everything out on a yellow legal pad, his assistant types it up, and he writes in his notes and she goes back and fixes everything.

3. I don’t know how to begin writing.

This is where I say for you to take the Nike approach and just Do It! Life is hard enough and we don’t need writing to interfere or drag us down. If you have the dream to write a book, just begin writing.

It doesn’t have to be pretty. It doesn’t have to be perfect. And it doesn’t have to be a Pulitzer prize winning piece of art.

Just find the time and the energy to write. YOu’ll never have the perfect moment or perfect inspiration. You just have to start writing. And write anything, really.

4. It cost too much money to write.

This is a huge excuse I’ve heard over and over. I simply don’t have the money to invest into my writing. Here’s the deal. You already have MS Word or you have Evernote (which is free) to do the bulk of your writing.

I find it easy to use paper and pencil to write. It’s cheap, it’s mostly free and doesn’t take much space. YOu don’t have to spend oodles of money to write. See above – just write and let the words flow.

5. I don’t know how to copyright my work, therefore, I can’t write for others to read.

A huge misconception to copyrighting is taking your written work, placing it in an envelope and mailing it to yourself. One, it won’t hold up in a court of law, and two the moment you’ve already written your work, it’s copyrighted.

And that will hold it’s weight in gold in court. you just have to prove you wrote it, and that is relatively easy.

[reminder]What excuses have you made to keep you from writing?[/reminder]