Why is writing a book so hard – and what you can do about it
A huge number of people have the idea of writing a book at some point in their lives. It’s an excellent creative outlet and inspiration can hit at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. Holidays can evoke emotion and atmosphere that you itch to capture on the page. Reading to a child can conjure an impulse to write your own children’s book.
Staying the course is where it gets difficult and there are very many seeds of a creative idea that fail to grow into a full manuscript. If you’re embarking on writing a book, it’s crucial to know what the stumbling blocks may be - and what you can do about them.
1
Insufficient planning time
When writing from an impulse, it is easy to run out of steam. Take time at the outset to develop your idea. Create a simple outline and experiment with it. What would the consequence be if a piece of action was moved? I was once at a writing conference and an author described developmental editing as moving furniture. You can have the ‘house’ but the furniture might be moved or switched out. Thinking through the outline in great detail allows you to interrogate your choices and the creative freedom to make new ones. Once you start writing, changing direction can feel a slow process and liable to damage what you have, like turning a huge vessel, so don’t skimp on this early ‘what if’ development stage.
You can also experiment with perspective before you start writing. Whose story is it is a key question to answer and it can be compelling to consider unlikely candidates. Even if your first instinct is the one you stick with, considering the story from the perspective of others in the story can add depth and richness. (One reason reading is a rewarding pursuit is that it develops empathy, hence the need to understand multiple perspectives in your narrative, even if you write from only one.)
2
Skills gap
Whilst writing is a creative outlet and you’ll want to ‘do it your way’ or ‘find your voice’, there are definite skills to acquire. You’ll hear phrases like ‘show don’t tell’ (i.e. in fiction, allow the reader to inhabit a scene or interpret action rather than baldly telling the facts, as in e.g. a school textbook) or ‘info dump’ (giving too much information at once, often at the opening of the book, which can deaden the desire to read on, due to any curiosity about a situation or character having been more than satisfied).
Writing workshops or writing guides can be helpful here. My book ‘52 Dates for Writers’ wraps some of the common issues of writing craft I’ve observed in my work as an editor and writing mentor in a series of active writing ‘dates’, helping you to cover these in a fun and memorable way. Another book about writing I can recommend is Sol Stein’s ‘Solutions for Novelists’.
If you feel under-equipped to write a book but are determined to do so, it could be worth working with a writing mentor or commissioning a reader report / manuscript assessment. In my work as a literary consultant providing these services, I often work with writers on their first manuscript, teaching aspects of craft such as interrogating order of revelation, show don’t tell, where to intensify action / emotion / atmosphere, understanding Point of View, ensuring consistency. The benefit of working with a writing coach is that only the aspects of craft you need to work on are identified; there will be many aspects of craft you understand instinctively or issues that aren’t relevant to your manuscript. A reader report or manuscript assessment pinpoints areas for development in your manuscript / writers’ craft, saving time and showing an efficient path to completing your book.
3
Taste gap
Don’t be discouraged that your draft won’t feel as polished as your favourite published books. These of course have been through countless editing rounds and are often the result of many years of the author learning their craft and, from the act of publishing, what readers respond to in their books.
Publishing a book is a collaborative process and so what you view as a consumer is both the expertise of the writer and the editor, with the accumulated experience of writer, publishing house and all the professionals involved. It really helps to remember that at the outset – when it’s just you.
Writing a book is of benefit in itself (offering a unique mental workout, opportunity for achievement and mastery, a longed-for creative outlet, inspiring personal connections) and if you are willing to put the time in and find the right collaborators for your project, you will find sections, chapters, and one day a full draft of your book that you are proud of.
4
Lack of time / commitment
A large barrier to completing a book is of course time. Over my many years of working with writers, I have encountered those who have saved writing for retirement - and then found their time too full to write!
As with all the things that matter to you in an increasingly busy life, you have to actively prioritise writing time. Some strategies you might try:
Decide how much time you can reasonably assign to writing each week and block this in your diary
Complete your writing slot as early as you can each writing day, to avoid your writing plans being derailed
View a writing slot as a weekly ‘club’ to give yourself permission to attend
Find a writing buddy or mentor and regularly share your work
Join a writing group, to keep writing at the forefront of your priorities
Supplement regular writing slots with a longer writing retreat, giving a concentrated block of time to write, without distraction
Remember that writing doesn’t only have to take place at your desk. Mix it up with writing outside, in a cafe or museum, or thinking through a knotty problem on a walk and writing up your notes whilst home
Vary how you write. If writing at your computer is feeling a chore, try writing a section by hand and then typing up afterwards
Gain buy-in from those around you, to potentially free up time from other commitments
Ensure if you take a break or holiday you block into your diary a clear date for getting back to writing your book
As writing is often a static activity, at your desk, be sure to balance this with plenty of movement in your day or week. You might even ‘habit stack’ by e.g. following yoga, a walk or cycle with a writing slot. (And you may find your best ideas surface during your active time. Take a notepad along!)
You’ll need to switch strategies at various points as something that’s worked well for you will see your writing grind to a halt. So be prepared to return to the above list, or come up with more ideas that could work for you when the going’s good.
5
Confidence
Sadly, some people feel writing a book isn’t for ‘someone like them’. The publishing industry is trying to open up to different voices and authors and if you think of the reading public, they too don’t want to read a narrow range of authors and experiences. So it’s helpful to remember that your voice is valid and nothing should hold you back – especially when writing primarily for pleasure or self-expression. Aim to banish impostor syndrome. If you feel your own mindset or beliefs are holding you back from writing a book but you wish you could do it anyway, this might be something to explore with a writing coach or mentor. Small steps such as regularly writing just for you can also help to build a writing habit and your belief in your abilities.
Writing a book may be hard but a huge number of people do manage to put in the hours, words, inspiration and graft needed to write and refine a manuscript. You don’t need to do it alone and finding just one supporter of your writing (whether that’s a reader; another writer; or an editor, literary consultant or mentor such as myself) can offer a boost when connection and a fresh eye is needed to help you stay the course
Claire Wingfield provides editorial and book-publishing services and is available to support you with full coaching, mentoring and literary consultancy whenever needed.
