The Book Stacks

“Fear� – it’s only a four lettered word but boy what an impact it can have on your life.

There are so many people in this world that have great stories to tell, and maybe you’re one of them. So don’t let fear hold you back. Instead, put it under the spotlight and do something about it.

Here are three of the most common fears that writers have and what you can do to overcome them.

1. “I Can’t Write�
For most of us, grammar and spelling classes are a distant memory. So when you sit down and write your first paragraphs, you suddenly start to be super self-conscious about stringing together coherent sentences. And when it doesn’t flow the first time, it’s so easy to give up. The secret of course, is to practice, practice and then practice some more. And buy a really good dictionary.

2. “I’m Not Good Enough�
We all have our own inner critic sitting on our shoulder whispering snarky comments in our ear like, “Who do you think you are?� and “Why would anyone listen to you?� It can be very debilitating, especially if deep down a part of you secretly agrees. The way to overcome this is to think like a CSI Detective and gather “evidence.� Next time your inner critic speaks, get your pen and paper and write down three reasons to prove it’s wrong.

3. “What If No-One Buys It?�
So you’ve overcome the first two obstacles and you’ve finished your manuscript. The fear now becomes whether an agent or a publisher will want to publish it, or whether any customers will buy it once it’s on the shelf. The good news is that this one is easy to overcome. You have to be your book’s number one fan. If you can’t say why it’s amazing, fabulastic and the secret solution to world peace, then how can you expect anyone else to get excited about it?

And on that note, if you really want to kick your fears into touch, then “Gulp!� gives you a 7 day roadmap to show you how, plus tons of practical techniques, action plans and inspiring stories of people who’ve overcome their fear and turned their dream into a reality.

If you’d like an inspiration boost right now, then watch my “Gulp!� book trailer. It might just be the nudge you need.