Stop Telling Yourself These Lies About Writing

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We’re all guilty of telling ourselves some of these lies sometimes. Learn to recognize them for what they are, and just move past them. Five minutes into an actual writing session, and often they will magically go up in smoke.  

I have to write every day 
Yeah, yeah, I know. Stephen King writes every day of the year, including Christmas. The reality is, taking a day off is not going to kill your writing mojo. Yes, the more often you sit your butt down and write, the more material you will have to work with, and that’s a good thing. But taking time to recharge your creative batteries is also good every once in a while. The trick is: NO GUILT. Also, and this is very important: Don’t let it go on too long, or it becomes harder and harder to get back into it.  

I don’t have to write today 
Really? Is that just an excuse because you don’t feel like writing? Or are you taking a conscious, deliberate rest day? Examine your excuses carefully. Recognize how sneaky your mind can be when it’s trying to protect you from something that scares you or takes real effort – which writing does, absolutely.  

I’ll feel like writing tomorrow, definitely 
Corollary to #2. This, my friends, is what they call “future discounting” or in layman’s terms, lying to yourself. You think you’ll feel more like writing tomorrow? Or that you’ll have more time? You won’t. You know it.  

If I'm not traditionally published I’m not a real writer 
I know, we all want the magic validation wand to anoint us as Real Writers. But these days, there are multiple ways to be published, and which you choose depends on a number of factors: the particular writing project, your career goals, the kind of writer you are... there is no one size fits all, and there are pluses and minuses to all the options available (traditional, small indie press, hybrid, full-on self pub...). Stop telling yourself there is only one way to succeed. 

I have to finish this... novel/memoir/piece 
Well, obviously you have to finish things, if you want to publish. No one is going to read your half-finished crappy draft. But there is value in admitting to yourself when a project isn’t working. Knowing this can be tricky. It might just be the messy middle getting you down. But if you are slogging along with no joy for months (or years), it may be time to put that aside for a while. Don’t assume it’s the only thing you will ever write. On the other hand... 

Look! A shiny new story idea! This will be the one that catapults me into brilliance!
If you have a pile of half-finished or barely-begun or almost-there stories and nothing actually finished – I mean all the way to a polished draft – then it’s time to let go of Shiny New Toy syndrome and commit to finishing something. Like, the thing you are working on right now. The sexy next great idea can wait. 

A first draft is good enough/I don’t need an editor 
No, it isn’t. Yes, you do. Do not, for the love of all things holy, get to The End on a first draft and think it is ready for the world. You can do so much better, I promise. Learn how to self-edit properly, and it will transform your writing. Let a book coach or editor review it, and  be amazed at how much better it can be. 

Just one more draft and it will be perfect 
On the other hand, there’s no such thing as perfection. Don’t keep tinkering with it for years hoping you will finally unlock the magic formula that will make it perfect.  

I have to outline
If you’re a planner, go for it. But some people get so lost in the planning and research stages, they never get around to writing the book. Often, they’re afraid the writing won’t match the beautiful vision they have in their head. If writing to an outline or story grid or some other structural scaffolding works for you, great. But remember that it should be flexible and allow for something to surprise you in the writing. And remember, no matter how detailed the outline, you will have to revise.

I can’t outline 
If writing out a detailed outline kills your desire to tell the story, respect that. Some writers have to thrash out a lot of the story on the page before they know what they’re working with. But don’t reject all forms of planning and organization as a straightjacket. Figuring a few things out can keep you from writing yourself into a corner that will be very time-consuming and discouraging to get out of.  

I don’t have time to write 
If you say you want to write but aren’t willing to make it a priority in your life... then you don’t really want to write. Or you’re letting fear rule you. (What if it’s no good? What if it’s too good and I get rich and famous and everybody hates me? More lies). People have managed to squeeze out writing time while waiting in doctor’s offices, dictating into their phones while sitting in traffic, getting up a half hour earlier every morning... if you commit to it, no excuses, you will find the time somewhere. If it really is a time in your life when you absolutely cannot find even 15 minutes a day, then acknowledge that.  

I can only write when I’m inspired 
Then you won’t be writing much, will you? Once your brain accepts that you are committed to writing, no matter what, all those questions of whether the muse will show up or not become irrelevant. Having a regular writing time in your schedule helps with this. So does an accountability partner.  

Writing should be fun/Writing should be like sweating blood 
Sometimes it’s one, sometimes it’s the other. You never know until you show up on the page. That’s actually part of the fun of it. No, being blocked or feeling like everything you write is raw sewage is not joyous, but writing should engage you, challenge you. If not, maybe one reason you’re not writing is that you’re bored.   

I suck as a writer 
This one seems to be more prevalent among writers than delusions of brilliance... although, no, never mind, there are plenty of people who think whatever they write is awesome. Guess what? Yep, both are lies. If you commit to constant growth and learning as a writer, you will improve. Not everyone is going to love what you write, but some people will. Chances are you are somewhere between genius and abysmal suckage. Embrace that reality. Keep writing.