by Alycia Morales @AlyciaMorales

If you’re following a blog about writing or hoping to attend a conference about writing, chances are there’s a book somewhere inside of you.

Some of us get right on it and have no problem getting the words on the page. Others of us struggle. Either we can’t put two words together in our minds or we hold back out of fear.

Let’s take a look at 5 reasons we don’t write.

1. Fear of the Crowd

Despite how often we say we don’t really care what other people think, because we know we’re created uniquely, I think we really do care. And that care of what others will think hinders us, as much as we don’t want it to.

Sometimes we walk in fear of the crowd. Underneath it all, we believe we can’t measure up to others’ expectations of us, and so we don’t do anything at all.

But the Lord says we are not to be men pleasers, but God pleasers. We should focus more on pleasing Him by being obedient to His will. When we focus on Him, the crowd fades away.

2. Fear of Failure

I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist. And after spending the past eight years editing other manuscripts, I find it difficult to turn off my internal editor. So when I sit to write, I end up frozen in one place as I strive to make it perfect.

Perfectionist or not, we should not fear failure. Failure is great fodder for learning and finding success. If we got things right the first time every time, we would be know-it-alls. Who likes a know-it-all? Not many people I know do. Don’t be afraid to fail. Learn from your mistakes and grow in your craft and talent. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

3. Fear of Success

On one hand, I’d love to become a NY Times Bestseller. I’d love for everyone who ever picks up my book to love it so much they rave about it to all their friends. And all their friends would rave about it to their friends. And I would make a lot of money and get invited to speak everywhere. Because everyone would love me. Ha ha.

On the other hand, I like being a wallflower. I like impacting others with my words but don’t crave the spotlight. The introvert in me fears I would be exhausted all the time if I found success in my writing career.

But what if God has a plan for my success? What if there’s purpose in it? It would be a sin for me to hide and not produce anything out of my fear of success. And so, I write.

4. It’s All Been Done Before

This, too, is a fear. It’s a fear of not having anything worthwhile to say. It’s a comparison trap too. When all of your best friends are writers, and they’re really good writers, it’s easy to slip into the “I don’t have anything better to say” mode.

What we don’t realize is that we all have a voice. A unique voice. Have you ever had someone close to you tell you something multiple times and you’ve found it difficult to follow or believe them? And then someone exciting and new comes along and shares the same exact thing with you, and you eat it up? Or the light bulb comes on? It’s because they have a different way of saying it – a unique voice.

Some day, someone’s eyes will light up and their heart will swell with life because you said something in your unique voice, even though they’ve heard it 100 times before from other people closer to them. Use your voice.

5. Fear of the Incomplete

There is a blank page in front of you. Or you have an outline that has a few empty spots. So instead of sitting down to write, you feel the need to wait until you have the complete picture. The complete plot. An entire cast of characters and all their backstories. You hold off until you know every detail.

Because if you started writing, you may get stuck. Funny thing about that. We can’t get stuck if we aren’t moving forward. Or backward. Or whatever direction we’re supposed to be heading. We can’t get stuck until we take ourselves out of park.

Ask any experienced author, and they’ll tell you they got where they are today because they didn’t stop writing or wait to start writing just because they drew a blank. The more you write, the more you train your mind to create, and the fewer times you’ll be stuck.

Don’t wait until you have every detail down. Start writing and see where the Lord takes you on the writing journey.

In the End…

…it comes down to wanting it bad enough to do it. How big is your dream to see your novel on the shelf at Barnes and Noble? Do you truly desire to make an income that can replace your day job income so you can stay home with your kids? How badly do you want to see your name on the NY Times bestseller list? Do you want to impact the lives of others and hear how your words changed a life? How willing are you to be obedient to God’s assignment on your life?

In my experience, if I want something badly enough, I’ll do whatever it takes to get it. Or I’ll make excuses as to why I can’t achieve it. And they’re really lame excuses. Because if I truly wanted it, I’d have it already.

Do whatever it takes. Get over the fear and sit down and write.

Don’t be distracted by earthly excuses and fears. Focus on the Lord and His truth. Focus on the Father’s will for your words. Perfect Love casts out all fear. When we focus on Perfect Love (Jesus) and Father’s love for us, the fear dissipates and we find the freedom to put the words on the page. Live in that freedom. Write with the Lord.

What fear do you most identify with? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Alycia Morales is a freelance editor and writer. Her writing has been in Thriving Family magazine, Splickety Love, and several compilation books. Her editing clients have won several awards for their manuscripts, including finalist in the Selah Award. Alycia’s first ghostwriting project, The Spirit of Hospitality by Larry Stuart, releases in December 2018.

She is also the conference manager and the blog editor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

When she isn’t busy hanging out with her writing friends, her husband, and her four children, Alycia enjoys reading, watching TV, hiking, and crafting.

Follow Alycia at her blogs, Life.Inspired. and The Write Editing. She can also be found on Instagram and Pinterest.