So you want to write a story but,

So you want to write a story, but [insert your excuse here]? Well I've got news for you, if you want to write a story you have to get rid of the negative thoughts and behaviors that are holding you back. Over the years I have heard (and given) a lot of reasons not to write, so today I'm going to list a few of my favorites and tell you how to come to terms with them.

“I don’t have time to write.”

Really? You are currently browsing a writing blog of your own volition. Just how long have you been cruising around the web? I don't believe that you don't have time. And if you are reading this while on the phone, eating lunch, and rushing from one class (or meeting, or child related crisis) to another I've got some harsh news for you: you've got to make time.

No one is going to do it for you, and if you've got a family they will monopolize your time and energy if you allow them to. Here is the bottom line. Do you want to write? Yes? Then if you really want it you will find, or make, time.

“I suck at writing.”

Oh psssssh. I don't believe that. Well maybe a little. But talent is just a matter of time and practice. We would live in a sad, sad world if every musician who picked up an instrument for the first time had that attitude. The skills and talent will come with practice. And I’ve got lots of practice coming up in the following blogs, so just keep trucking!

“I don’t have any good ideas.”

That's okay. We've all got to start somewhere. There are a lot of fun ways to generate ideas. One way is to start with the question What if? Take something ordinary in you life, like crossing the street for example and start asking yourself What if?

What if that car didn't stop? What if I somehow managed to leap over it? What if aliens abducted me seconds before the collision?

I will have an entire blog post dedicated to generating Ideas, but for now, just start looking around and asking: what if?

“I've got writer's block.”

Writer's Block means one of two things. You've run out of ideas (see previous excuse) or you are waiting to be inspired. Trust me on this one, don't wait to be inspired! You will never get anything done.

If you are serious about writing you are going to have to come to terms with putting absolute crap down on a page and accepting that you can revise it later. It hurts, I know, but no one ever said writing was easy. If they did they were lying.

If you are feeling stuck because you don't know where to take your story next, make something up. You are a writer, that's what you do.

Don't worry too much about this one, I'll have a post dedicated to my favorite block busters (yes that is a pun) coming soon.

“No one is going to want to read my story.”

I've been pretty snarky and sarcastic up until now, but I'm about to get really serious and harsh here. Are you ready? Okay. Why do you want to write? That is a serious question that I am seriously asking you to consider.

Are you writing so that you can be the next [inset famous author of your choice here] and make tons of money? Sorry, you are in the wrong line of work. Chances are it's not going to happen.

Are you writing because you have a story inside of you that you have to get out before it drives you mad? Then why do you care if no one wants to read it? Write for you, a little indulgence and self love never killed anyone.

Are you writing because you have a story that you think will touch someone? Then write it. If only one person ever reads your story and laughs or cries, for a second, then you've made the world a better place.

If you aren't sure why you're writing, take some time to ponder it. It's something you should definitely know.

“I just don’t think I could handle being rejected.”

I get that, I really do. I used to be afraid of rejection too, until I learned to look at it differently. Rejection either means your story was not what “they” were looking for, or your story wasn't good enough. Ouch right? Here's the thing. You are not the little black marks on a page. No one is saying that they don't want you, they are telling you that the little black marks on the page aren't good enough.

You can handle this in one of two ways. You can curl up in a ball and cry, vowing never to write again, or you can look at your story and ask: “What can I do to make this better?”

“I'm afraid to try because I might fail.”

I hear you on this one too. I used to be one of those people who would never even start something unless I was sure I would succeed. Terrible right? Here is how I dealt with it. One day I asked myself what failure meant to me. I decided that failure is simply proof that I tried, didn't succeed, and needed to try harder next time. That's not so bad right?

“Why bother? There is no such thing as a new idea.”

Well you are sort of right and sort of wrong. Writers are always stealing/borrowing ideas from each other, but then they do something that blows this argument out of the water: they put their own spin on it.

Here's an example for you. The same draft of a story could be given to me and my good friend Jae Randall. I guarantee one of those drafts would come back with weird Fantasy/SciFi elements and the other would come back dripping with Unresolved Sexual Tension. Jae and I are different writers so we can never write the same story.

The same goes for you dear reader. No one but you can write a story your way, and as my good friends at NaNoWriMo say "The world needs your story." So stop making excuses and start writing!

P.S. Have any other excuses? Post them in the comments and let me at 'em!