Why 99% of Writers Give Up Before Completing Their First Book

While it may surprise you, with all the books that are published and placed on the shelves or found online each year, these novels only make up a tiny amount of the books that writers have begun to write with the hopes and dreams of publishing their very own books.  

Despite the dreams and aspirations of many of these writers, the odds are not in their favor as less than 1% of these novels that are started will ever reach their intended audience. 

But why is this?

Why do these authors who start with great ambitions, hopes, and dreams never cross the finish line after beginning the task of writing their novels, or more importantly, how can you avoid this same fate?

Unfortunately, the reasons these novels never make it to the shelf of a local bookstore near you have more to do with the writer than the competitiveness of the writing industry though that certainly doesn't help.  

Self-Doubt 

Self-doubt can stop any book in its tracks before it has even entered the race. Many writers start off thinking that they can write a book and that everyone will love it, but they are also easily able to turn this around and start telling themselves that they aren't good writers or that no one will even read what they are writing. 

This tends to lead to the writer giving up on their dreams and their writing, tucking their unfinished story away in some draw or computer file to gather dust until it's just a distant dream of the past.

To avoid this surround yourself with cheerleaders (friends, family, and fellow writers) who will champion around you and not let you quit. You need to see your story through to the end no matter what and if you decide to not share it with the world then that decision is up to you. 

Poor Planning 

Many a story has been started with all the gusto of a brand new shiny idea cruising down the highway at top speed - just for it to come to a dead stop in the middle of the empty lane and refuse to go further. 

The easily frustrated or steel-hardened writer alike can get frustrated when it seems that the story has no road to follow, or path that their characters can take to get their story from where it is to where it needs to be and this leads to them giving up thinking the story is a dud. 

This can easily be avoided with the concept of outlining, which itself is a word that gets mixed reactions in the writing community. Some writers swear by it while others turn tail and run as soon as they hear of it. 

If you want to write your first draft by the seat of your pants you are more than welcome to do so, but when you hit that block the best way to fix it is to resort to any type of outlining process that works for you to give yourself a road map to get your story to where it needs to be. 

There's no shame in asking for direction either from fellow writers if you get stuck. Brainstorming can solve many problems. 

Perfectionism 

There is no such thing as a perfect novel and anyone who tells you otherwise has never written one.

Writers can pick and prod at their story for years and still not be convinced that it's ready to go before the public eye, but all this does is hold their story back from leaving the nest and finding its way in the world. 

If you've looked over your story and gone through the usual channels, editor, beta readers, and more then it's time to let it go. Sure you may read it later and see that there's something that you wished you could have changed, but I say the same thing about many college essays that I had turned in and just as it's too late to change them and fix my grade, you have to accept that your book is already out there and it's time to face the music. 

Time Management 

In all my years being around writers and writers circles the number one thing that is discussed is always the question: How do you find time to write?

'I can't write I have to cook… clean… walk the husband… dust the kids… polish the ceiling fan' 

There are never enough hours in the day to write - unless you make the time. 

Those who want to write and have the drive to write will find the time to write. Just as I can't say I want to run a marathon and yet tell myself that I have no time to run - if I want it to happen I need to make the time to make it happen. 

Schedule the time to write or find the pockets in your schedule to add in writing. Between loads of laundry, after the kids go to sleep, as you wait for the bus to go to work - whenever you can - write. 

Lack of Accountability or Support 

Did you write today? No? Then go write. 

Think back to when you were in school and your teacher assigned you some optional assignments that wouldn't be checked or graded when you finished them. Chances are you didn't do them and there is no shame in this, I wouldn't have either. 

Sometimes it's the same with writing. No one is checking to see if we've written today and nobody is going to withhold dessert from us if we don't get in our word counts for the day.

Unfortunately, sometimes we have to be our own bad guy. 

I keep snacks at my writing desk. (Currently, I have a bag of Mini Skittles) I use these to bribe myself, laying a few out on my desk and only allowing myself to have some at the end of each page I write. 

If I want the snack - I have to do the work. 

Find something that motivates you to make sure you get your words for it. This can be as easy as saying you can't have a certain snack or not being able to watch a show that you've been waiting for. 

As for support, this can be found on all corners of the internet in forms available everywhere, even yours truly who goes live on Twitch multiple times a week, and I always have time to give support where it's needed. 

Now get to writing and don't give up. 

With love, 

B.K. xo xo

Want to write with me live? I'm now on Twitch! Come join me in some writing sprints most days at 10:30 pm EST

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