I often use my son as an example on this blog. He is 18 and just trying to find his way in the world. He is also a writer. I think we can all learn from the issues he faces daily.
Recently, I had a conversation about an important task he needed to get done. That task had nothing to do with writing, but it was something that he had been putting off that was important for his future. When we were talking about it he kept saying, “Hopefully, I’ll be able to do that tomorrow.”
The language he was using suggested that he had no control over the situation. It was as if he thought that the stars had to align in a special manner for him to be able to complete this task. That wasn’t the truth at all. He was 100% in control over his actions and the outcome, but he had given up that control because he was afraid.
Of course, I didn’t let this slip. I explained to him the error in his thinking and encouraged him to complete the task. After I hung up the phone, I started thinking about our conversation. There were things I was putting off doing with my writing that I really shouldn’t have been.
I’ve had an idea for a series of novels for a few years now. I’ve been letting the idea perpulate in my head for a long time, but I put off writing it. My reason for putting it off was that I felt like I didn’t have the time. I thought I needed to get other things done first. The problem was that this list was endless. There would be one thing then another and then another.
I was doing the same thing my son was doing. I was saying to myself that hopefully I would be able to start this book series in the future. The problem with that is that the future is now. Days passed and before I knew it a whole year had gone by, and I still hadn’t done it.
Well, that stopped right away. I’ve started writing that series. I’m also finally nearly finished proof reading Flying Lessons and am almost ready to send it to an editor. I am in charge of my life and I have to act like it.
What are you putting off?
Here is my question for you. Are you putting off writing a novel? Are you waiting until you get this or that project done, or you have just a little bit more money to get started? This life is the only life you have. Once today is over, it’s over. It will never come back.
Now is no time to put off writing your novel. If you really want to do it, just do it. I may sound like a Nike ad, but I’m serious. Schedule some time even if it’s just thirty minutes, sit down and start writing. Don’t put it off even another day. That’s my challenge to you.
Hopefully, I’ll write a novel is not a sentence I want you to say. I want you to say, I’m writing a novel.