Three voices in my head that stop me from writing a book
Shut them down.
I’ve started writing a book on charisma three times over the last five years.
Yet, I failed every time as the book is nowhere to be found.
Like many people, I always dreamed of publishing a book to share what I know with the world. It starts with the subject you know very well and are passionate about. Then, you open up your word processor and start typing the title of the book and each chapter in it. You go through and outline things in excruciating detail.
And then you start to write.
Day one, everything seems to be going well. You are motivated and excited. Day ten, the excitement fades. Day twenty, you avoid writing altogether.
You hear the little voice in the back of your head. The voice tells you, you are not good enough, people won’t read the book, and this endeavour is a colossal waste of time.
This was me writing the book on charisma and talking to myself.
But, the voice in my had had it all wrong.
I am good enough to write it.
I have a Ph.D. in psychology, and my dissertation covers charisma in everyday life. I am one of the few people in the world who dedicated years of my life to studying charisma. I know the subject matter, have the writing skills and have the credentials. So, why do I doubt myself?
I need to accept that I am good enough to write the darn book. And then, forget about all my credentials.
That’s right. Forget about it.
The truth is, my credentials will be on the cover of the book, but this book is not about me, and it is about charisma. People don’t buy books because of the author and their credentials; they buy them to read the pages. Re-centering away from me and on the content is what I say to the little voice in my head now.
People will read it.
I have read many books and many blog posts.
Some are great, and others are utter garbage.
What distinguishes the two is not whether people read it — they did.
But, how many people read it.
Good content stands the test of time.
Think J. K. Rowling and her Harry Potter epic. They came out when I was in middle school, and they are still read by middle schoolers today. Think Nicholas Cole and his writing on writing and categories. Think Gordon Ramsay and his beautiful collection of cookbooks.
Each of them brought to us high-quality content, which is why many people read it.
When you produce great content, it has its own life and attracts the readers and views.
Producing great content, and the rest will fall into place.
Writing a book is never a waste of time.
I know it takes a long time to write a book. You wonder if people will care and if people will read it. You wait to see reviews, and you wait to see sales. And, chances are, your book, like many others, will flop.
But, writing a book is not a waste of time.
Writing is all about thinking and getting you to organize your thoughts. It helps you become a better thinker, and it teaches you about the subject matter.
But, there is more.
Writing a book tests your tenacity, your resilience, and your willpower. It challenges you to stay on the path, face fear and frustration. It forces you to practice to showcase your work in public.
It makes you a better human being.
Writing a book is not a waste of time, and it is the time spent making you the better version of yourself.
So, shut the voices in your head. And let’s get to work.
