Day 23 - 10 Reasons why I want to give up (And realizing that they are excuses)

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1. I don’t have time to put together a book. (Make time! There is no such thing as complete free time.)
2. My material is not good enough. (Yes it is. You have been published, you can always edit, put only your strongest poems.
3. My funds are low. (Save up your money, find out how to cut out corners, etc.)
4. I am afraid that no one will like it anyway. (YOU HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED, you have people who tell you that they LOVE your writing, poetry is either hit or miss so don’t sweat those who miss it.)
5. I don’t know what my book cover will be. (Really? Ask people for help once you put together the manuscript or wait for it to come to you. Cover is the least of your worries.)
6. I need help editing. (First of all, plenty of people edit their own work. Second, you know writers! Just ask for help!)
7. There was someone who was going to help me and now I have no one who makes it feel…safe (Once again, you know writers! Just because you were comfortable with someone, doesn’t mean that there are not other people you will feel comfortable showing your writing too. And nothing is safe…ever.)
8. I don’t feel encouraged. (You have people who are happy that you are doing this. Do you want them to throw you a parade? Or do you want to be reminded that this is a good step everyday? Tell your boyfriend, your best friend, someone to say “You can do it!” if it makes you feel better. But you are encouraged.)
9. I feel embrassed by some of the material I am choosing. (Well you are choosing to include it. And sorry to tell you, life is embrassing. This is why you still replay embrassing moments from 10 years ago in your head. If you really want this to reflect you, you have to tell it how it is.)
10. I don’t know what I am doing. (Oh yes you do and if you don’t, learn! You wouldn’t have gotten this far if you didn’t know. This book will happen!)

I realized that I could have went on, going back and forth with myself, but that’s not good for me, the readers of this site, and more importantly, the progress of the book. I do think it’s important however to put these feelings out there so they don’t have as much power as they seemingly do. And I do know the answers to my fears (as you guys obviously see). The ultimate feeling is that I am just afraid. The only answer to that is for me to stop being afraid. I have to tell myself that everyday. Stop being afraid.


Stop being afraid.

Stop being afraid.

Stop being afraid.

Stop being afraid.

Stop being afraid.

Stop being afraid.

Stop being afraid.

You can do this…you have to.

Your words are everything.