avatarIlam Padmanabhan

Summary

The article discusses common excuses that hinder writers from achieving success, emphasizing that overcoming fear and self-doubt is key to unlocking potential.

Abstract

The content delves into the psychological barriers that prevent aspiring authors from realizing their dreams of success. It identifies fear as the primary obstacle, manifesting in various excuses such as self-doubt ("I'm not good enough"), time constraints ("I don't have time"), perceived difficulty ("It's too hard"), lack of inspiration ("I'm not sure what to write about"), redundancy ("I don't have anything new to say"), mood ("I'm not in the mood"), comparison with others ("I'll never be as good as _____"), and perceived lack of readership ("No one will read it anyway"). The article encourages writers to recognize these excuses, confront them, and persist in writing despite these challenges, suggesting that consistent effort and a unique voice can lead to success.

Opinions

  • The author posits that talent, skill, and education are not the main factors holding back writers, but rather their own fears and excuses.
  • It is suggested that persistence in writing, even when not feeling inspired, can lead to breakthroughs and success.
  • The article implies that every writer, regardless of experience, faces self-doubt and that this is a normal part of the writing process.
  • It is believed that time can always be made for writing if it is a priority, even if it means sacrificing other activities like social media.
  • The author emphasizes that writing is a skill that improves with practice and that every attempt brings a writer closer to their goals.
  • The piece encourages writers to find their unique angle on topics, suggesting that originality comes from personal perspective.
  • It is argued that comparing oneself to established writers is unproductive and that each writer has their own path to success.
  • The author is optimistic that there is an audience for every writer's work, and it is worth writing even if the audience is not immediately apparent.

What Stands Between You And Outstanding Success

Top Excuses that prevent you from achieving success

What are your excuses? Photo - Pexels

We all have dreams of becoming successful authors. We want to write the best-selling novel or become a household name for our insightful and groundbreaking blogs.

What stands between you and outstanding success? It’s not what you think. It’s not a lack of talent, skill, or education. So what is the real reason that holds you back? The answer is fear. We’re afraid of failure, of rejection, of not being good enough. And so we use excuses as a way to protect ourselves from hurt and disappointment.

And if we’re not careful, these excuses can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We start to believe them, and before long, we’re using them as an excuse not to write at all.

We’ll look at some of the most common excuses in this post. Check if you relate to any of them.

“I’m not good enough.” This is perhaps the most common excuse writers give themselves. It’s also one of the most damaging. When we tell ourselves we’re not good enough, we’re giving up before even starting. We’re telling ourselves that our work will never be good enough, so why bother trying?

The reality is everyone feels this way at some point. Everyone has doubts about their ability to write well. But the only way to overcome these doubts is to sit down and write. The more you write, the better you’ll get. And who knows? Maybe your next piece will be the one that finally gets you the success you long for!

“I don’t have time.” This is another common excuse and one that’s particularly easy to fall into. We all have busy lives, and it’s easy to convince ourselves that we simply don’t have time to write. But the truth is, if you’re passionate about writing, you’ll find the time.

It might mean getting up an hour early in the morning or staying up an hour later at night. But if you’re willing to make the sacrifice, you’ll find the time. Or simply give up social media for a while.

“It’s too hard.” This is another lie we tell ourselves. We look at successful writers and think, “They make it look so easy! I could never do what they do.” But the reality is, they’ve just put in the hours. They’ve written, rewritten, edited, and revised until they’ve created something they’re proud of. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

“I’m not sure what to write about.” This is a common problem for writers, especially those who are just starting out. But there are plenty of resources available to help you find ideas. Try brainstorming with a friend or read many of the posts on this platform that help with this challenge. Once you have an idea, it’ll be much easier to start writing.

“I don’t have anything new to say.” This is another lie we tell ourselves. We think that everything has been said before, so what’s the point in trying? But the reality is, there’s always something new to say. Even if you’re writing about a topic that’s been covered a million times before, you can still bring your own unique perspective to it.

“I’m not in the mood.” This is another common excuse. We all have days when we don’t feel like writing. But sometimes, the best way to get out of a writing slump is just to sit down and start writing. Once you get started, you might find that the words start flowing more easily than you thought they would.

“I’ll never be as good as _____.” This is another lie we tell ourselves. We compare ourselves to successful writers and think we can never measure up. But the truth is, we can’t all be the next J.K. Rowling or Tim Denning. We can only be ourselves. And if we focus on honing our own unique talents, we might just surprise ourselves with what we’re capable of.

“No one will read it anyway.” This is the final lie we tell ourselves. We think that our writing is pointless because no one will ever read it. But the truth is, there are people out there who will appreciate what we write. We just have to find them.

Conclusion

So those are some of the most common excuses writers give themselves. If you’re struggling with writer’s block or self-doubt, try to identify which excuse you’re telling yourself. Then, make a conscious effort to overcome it. It won’t be easy, but it’s worth it.

Because in the end, what stands between you and outstanding success is your excuses. The only way to become a successful writer is to write.

So how can you overcome these excuses and achieve your writing goals? That’s for another post.

What would you add to this list of excuses?

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Ever fancy becoming a writer? Get rid of all that useless crap from social media, get access to the work of thousands of amazing writers, become an author, and possibly make some money. It costs only $5 a month. Why not give it a go! Use this link! Yes, I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you), but it wouldn’t change our lives.

By the way, I write on a lot of other topics. More about what I write here!

Please follow me / subscribe to emails so you’ll know as soon as my next post is out.

Success
Self Improvement
Mindfulness
Creativity
Writing
Recommended from ReadMedium