Are you afraid to share your story?

Photo by Vasilis Caravitis on Unsplash

You wrote the book. You've brainstormed, outlined, and maybe even edited it a few times. Now, you're feeling stuck. It’s not necessarily because the story isn’t ready, but because you might not be.

If you’re finding every excuse to avoid sending it to an agent or asking for feedback or telling people about it, it’s not because you’re lazy or uncommitted. It may be because you’re scared.

You’re scared of being seen or being judged. You’re scared of what happens if someone actually reads it.

This fear is sly. It could show up in multiple ways, by telling you:

• “I need to edit Chapter 5 again.”

• “It’s not ready yet.”

• “Maybe I’ll take another course first.”

• “Who am I to write a book?”

• “I should clean my house first.”

You don’t have to be fully ready

There’s no magical moment when you suddenly feel 100% confident and fearless. Most authors don’t feel completely ready when they hit publish or send that email to an agent. They just do it anyway.

You don’t have to shout about your book. You just have to take the next small step:

• Share a piece of your writing online.

• Tell people you’re writing a book.

• Research agents or publishers or explore self-publishing.

• Ask for feedback on that draft you've edited multiple times.

Each step proves to your nervous system that being seen isn’t dangerous. It’s powerful.

Stop hiding and share your story

When we say we’re scared to market, sell, or pitch our book, what we’re often afraid of is being seen and heard. A book isn't just words on a page. It’s a part of you, in written form.

And once it’s out there, people can have opinions that aren’t always the nicest.

But someone needs that story and message you’re carrying. And they’ll never find it if you hide behind fear and doubt.

You don’t have to be a salesperson to market and sell your book. You want to reach the people your words were meant for, so let yourself be heard, even if you’re feeling a little shaky and unsure.

If you’re waiting for permission to put your book into the world, this is it.

We need you’re your voice. We need your story. We need you, even if you’re still figuring it out as you go.

Struggling to become a writer? Maybe you haven't DECIDED yet.

Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash

If you’re having a hard time starting or finishing your book, the first step isn’t finding the right writing software, carving out more time, or learning better productivity hacks. The first step is DECIDING.

You have to decide.

I spent years saying I wanted to write a book. I had notebooks full of ideas and half-written chapters on my laptop. But I hadn’t actually decided to be a writer. I was playing with the idea of writing. I was wishing. Daydreaming. Fantasizing about that author life. Dipping my toe in the pool while telling myself I’d dive in when I had more time.

Guess what? That book didn’t write itself.

And deep down, I didn’t believe I was really allowed to be a writer. I thought I had to earn it. I told people I wanted to write, but then I’d downplay it, laugh it off, or not bring it up at all. If someone asked how it was going, I’d say, “Oh, I’ve been so busy,” or “I’m still brainstorming.” Translation: I hadn’t truly decided yet.

As with anything you do in life, your mindset and energy matter. When you approach writing from a place of desperation such as needing the book to prove your worth or save you, you bring the wrong energy. You’re asking your creativity to solve all your problems instead of letting it flow from a grounded, confident place.

For the words to start flowing, you first have to make an internal shift, not just in your conscious mind, but in your identity. You have to become the version of you who writes. Who finishes. Who is a writer.

A lot of people mistake wishing for deciding.

There’s a big difference between wanting to be a writer and deciding that you are one. Wanting keeps your dream floating somewhere in the fantasy realm, where it is alluring but always just out of reach.

Deciding brings it down to earth. It becomes real and tangible.

When you truly decide, everything that doesn’t align with your decision becomes irrelevant. You stop entertaining excuses like “I don’t have time,” “I’m not inspired,” or “Maybe I’m not cut out for this.” Your writer’s block diminishes. You don’t debate whether or not you’ll write. You just do it.

This doesn’t mean you suddenly have ten free hours a day or that the right words magically flow out of your head and unto the screen. But you’ll start thinking and acting in a new way. You’ll get creative. You’ll stop looking for permission and start looking for pockets of time. You’ll treat your writing like it matters.

Here’s a trick: think about an area in your life where you already have developed strong, unbreakable standards.

Maybe you never skip your morning coffee. Maybe you work out four times a week, no matter what. Maybe you don’t let anyone talk to you a certain way.

You don’t second-guess those things. You just live them. They’re part of your identity.

That’s the energy you need to bring to writing. Make it your standard. Your non-negotiable. The same way you wouldn’t argue with someone about why you should brush your teeth, don’t argue with yourself about whether or not you’re a writer. Just be it.

If your friends or family question it? That’s okay. If someone asked me why I brush my teeth, I wouldn’t take it personally. I’d just smile and move on. If my family or friends questioned me about why I don’t take drugs, I’d have no issue telling them that they don’t align with my lifestyle or health goals.

Writing should feel the same. It’s who you are. No explanation needed.

So if you’ve been stuck, spinning your wheels, or wondering why your book still isn’t finished, ask yourself honestly:

Have you REALLY decided to be a writer?
Or are you still treating it like a distant dream?

Because the second you commit fully, you’ll begin to see time, inspiration, and opportunities you never noticed before.

So DECIDE.
You're a writer right now.
Not someday.
Today.