If you’re in the midst of a writing meltdown, know that you are not suffering alone. Here are some common themes I hear frequently:
- “Who am I to write a book? Can I do this? Will anyone read it?”
- “I’m not even sure what this book is. It feels so vague right now.”
- “Who’s my target market? Moms? Business owners? I can’t decide.”
- “I have so many ideas. What’s the right one?”
- “How do I find my voice as a writer? How do I make this book stand out from everything else out there? How do I find my essence as a writer?”
These are all great questions to be asking. And, yet, if you ask them from a place of fear, or wanting to control the process or a sense of rigidity, they will muddle everything. If you think there is one right answer and you need it now, you push the clarity away. If you ask from a place of openness and curiosity, of ease and gentleness, not needing an immediate answer, you draw the clarity to you.
You will get clear. Maybe not right way. You may need to play around, experiment, trust.
And then, it will come.
Be relaxed. Stay open and curious.
So much of the time, we are in our heads when thinking about our books—overthinking. Our best writing comes from our hearts. I don’t mean fluffy or vague ooey-gooey writing. Just writing from a place where you embody your book, your stories, your teachings, your wisdom and knowledge.
You may want to practice walking in nature, running, qigong, tai chi, yoga, dance, lifting weights or meditation before writing. In that way, you tap into a more expansive sense of who you are and your connection to all that is. You can let go of the part of the mind that strives and embrace the part of you that exists in a state of flow.
Try it! And feel free to share any practices that help you get clarity. Or ask any questions you have about writing a book.
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Originally published at www.lisatener.com