Overcome The Blocks That Stop You From Sharing Your Writing

Sharing your writing can be one of the most nerve-wracking and intimating things a writer has to do. Be it a publisher, at a book signing, to an anonymous online group or just to your best friends, it’s never easy.

Getting feedback and opinions on your writing can be really helpful, and can have a significant impact on your book. Suggestions and comments made by anyone from friends to professionals can help authors notice inconsistencies, weaknesses or simply words and phrases that need attention.

However, it is all too easy to keep tweaking and editing and never actually get round to releasing your book into the public domain. The fear of finishing is an issue for authors, but it’s not the only obstacle that gets in the way of us releasing our work.

Here are some of the most common blocks, as well as how to overcome them.

Finances

Even if you go down the cheapest possible route, when it comes to self-publishing there is going to be money involved. Hiring a professional editor and book cover designer is the very least you can do. On top of that, you might consider investing in copies of your own work to try and sell on, and paying for professionals to market your book.

However, book publishing doesn’t need to be expensive. If you are willing to invest your own time into building a relationship with fans, marketing your book through your blog, setting up book tours and readings and building an email list, you can do lots for little or no money at all. Plus doing it right will be worth it!

Technology

Just because you work on a computer all day doesn’t mean that you are tech-savvy. In fact, many authors baulk at the idea of trying to keep up with changes in technology and digital communication. However, don’t let this stop you from releasing your work. They key is to take it slow, do one thing at a time and you’ll get there. Setting up a website and blog is easy - and if you choose a good host, they will be happy to help talk you through any issues you might have.

Keep everything simple but effective. Learn how to use social media to your advantage, and get to grips with an easy to use mailing platform such as MailChimp to keep your readers up to date and informed of any new releases or book signings you have coming up.

Time

Many writers have ‘day jobs’ to attend, houses to keep up, kids to feed. It’s no wonder that one of the main issues voiced by writers is that they simply don’t have enough time to sit down and get any writing done! The truth is, however, that time is only an obstacle if you let it be, and more often than not can just be an excuse because actually finishing your writing is a scary business!

Whether it’s 5 in the morning or the latter half of the witching hour, on your lunch break, or when the rest of your family settles down to watch tv, you can find the time to write. If you actually sit down and think about how you spend your time, you’ll find a way to free some up.

No one is as busy as they think they are!

Of course, everyone needs to rest and recuperate, and there are some chores that simply need doing to live a happy and pleasant existence. It’s all about figuring out where to make sacrifices, and when you do sit down to write making sure you just get on with it. Don’t spend half an hour aligning your stationery or reading over your last 12 chapters - use your writing time for writing - you’ll accomplish so much more if you do.

Fear of rejection

No one likes to be told they are not good enough, but for writers, it’s just part and parcel of the job. As soon as you accept this and accept that it’s what all writers must go through the sooner, you can stop letting it get in your way. The truth is you are probably your own biggest critic anyway, and you’re unlikely to hear anything from anyone that you haven’t already said to yourself. So whatever you do don’t let fear stand in your way.

Without readers, what is our writing? Sharing it can be scary, but without doing so, we aren’t giving ourselves the chances we deserve. So next time you are struggling to share your writing follow these tips, be brave and just go for it!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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