Why You Should Just Write Your Damn Book

There are so many people out there who say that they want to write a book some day. Growing up, I was one of them – and then I just decided that I was going to do it. I wrote the first draft of my first novel when I was in high school because I wanted to get the writing process started. I know that a lot of people have this dream, but they hold onto it and wait for the “right time” to write their novel. But there’s never going to be the “right time,” so here’s why you should really just write your damn book.

No one else can write your book – If you gave 4 different writers the same exact premise for a book, you would have 4 completely different books. So whatever idea you have, you shouldn’t hold on to it and keep it close to your chest. You have a unique story to share, and one that won’t exist unless you write it. That can also be terrifying, so sorry if I just freaked you out, but just know that you’re the only one who can tell this story.

The more you overthink it, the less likely you are to actually do it – This is one of the biggest reasons why I suggest you just write the book. If you spend ages and ages thinking about writing it but don’t actually do anything about it, you’re going to build it up in your head and it will be an insurmountable mountain in your life. You’ll be too afraid of doing it wrong to even get started, but that shouldn’t be the case. The moral of the story is that spending too much time thinking about it will prevent you from ever starting.

Even writing 1 sentence is better than writing nothing – Like I just mentioned, there is a huge mental hurdle that writers experience when it comes to getting started. When you’re starting a book and looking at how much you have to write, you can get really overwhelmed. But even writing one sentence is enough to get you closer to that end. Keep writing. Write one sentence a day if you want to. Just keep writing.

You’ll never get back this time – Not to give you an existential crisis or anything, but you’re never going to get this minute back again. Or this minute. Or that minute. (You get it.) Every day that you spend thinking about writing your book without actually writing it is another day that you’ll never get back. Is writing a book the kind of thing that you want to accomplish before you die? If you’re on your deathbed, will you regret never writing a book? Start writing now so you aren’t in that position.

All first drafts are bad – One of the hardest things about writing books is accepting that your first draft is probably going to suck. You shouldn’t try to write a perfect book, and you shouldn’t let imperfection prevent you from writing. Obviously that is easier said than done, and it’s something that all writers have trouble with. But don’t let fear of writing a terrible book stop you from writing; you can write a terrible first draft and make it an amazing final book.

Like this post? Check out:

Writing a Book: How To Power through the End, Improve Your Writing: 4 Different Parts of Your Book To Work On, So You Want To Write a Book

Kate Mitchell

Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.