Writing a New Book | Why Starting is the Second Hardest Thing to Do
Writing a New Book | Why Starting is the Second Hardest Thing to Do Beginning anything new is always a challenge, one that most of us face almost every day. Whether it’s moving to a new city, the first day at a new job, a first date, or something as small as a new diet, every fresh beginning feels like a new chapter in the story of our lives. Imagine the jitters that kick in at the thought of living in a new city surrounded by people you’ve never met before, or the nervousness before that first date, or the awkwardness of settling into a new workspace. The truth is, the first step is often the hardest to take. Writing a book is no different. Starting a new one feels like opening a bag full of mixed emotions. Excitement, fear, doubt, and curiosity, all hitting at once. It’s thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. The bottom line is that for any author, starting a book is probably the second most difficult thing to do. The first? Finishing it. But, we won’t be talking about finishing a book just yet, as the thought of getting started is already daunting enough. Here are a few reasons why starting a book takes more courage than most people realise: Cloud of doubt No matter how sunny it is outside, starting a new book or story somehow feels gloomy because of the cloud of doubt that hangs over you. Before you even put pen to paper, before a single word is written, there is already that cloud of hesitation, of second-guessing, of what ifs. What if no one likes it? What if my story is not good enough? What if it is not even story-worthy? What if it does not turn out as good as it sounds in my head? What if my words do not make anyone feel anything? Confidence is shaky. Not just confidence in your abilities, but in your idea, your skill set, your story, and even your audience. Somewhere in the back of your head, you hear that voice asking, “Who even reads books anymore?”. And the more you think about it, the heavier that cloud becomes. Actually Working Instead of Planning I can’t be the only one who’s sat with a bunch of friends to plan a startup that never took off, or planned a trip that only existed in the group chat. I recently read that planning gives a quick dopamine hit by letting your brain imagine success, creating a false sense of accomplishment. Doing, on the other hand, provides a slower but more meaningful dopamine release tied to real progress, which explains why so many plans feel complete before they’ve even begun. Writing a book is no different. It’s all fun and games when you’re planning it — imagining scenes in your head, sketching characters, daydreaming about that perfect ending. But when it’s time to actually sit down and do the work, that’s where the real test begins. Because writing a story demands consistency, patience, and a level of commitment that most plans fail to achieve. And that’s exactly where most of us get stuck, caught between the excitement of planning and the reality of doing. We know what needs to be done, but somehow, we keep putting it off. Is it just laziness? No, it’s the power. The power to delay! Power to Delay Let’s face it, chances are that when you’re writing a book, you’re your own boss. You set the deadlines. You have complete control. And that gives you the power to delay because who are you answerable to? It’s no secret that we naturally put off the hard, difficult, or uncomfortable tasks. Writing a book is exactly that. It’s challenging, demanding, and often intimidating. I remember when I started my first book, Luck, Fluke or Destiny? For the first few months, I kept delaying the process, telling myself it wasn’t the right time yet. Maybe I should be in a better mood. Maybe I need a new table and chair. Maybe the setup isn’t right. We convince ourselves that we’re waiting for the perfect moment, the right time, the right mood, the right environment. But the reality is, there is never a perfect time, or maybe it always is! Half glass empty or half glass full, that choice is always ours. Time Management Alright, you have an intriguing story, interesting characters, and a bunch of ideas buzzing in your head, but the most important thing to actually bring it all to life is time. Chances are, if you’re writing a book, you’re not just writing a book. As relaxing as it sounds to spend your days sipping coffee and scribbling in your notebook or typing on your laptop, that’s rarely the case for most of us. Maybe you’re working, studying, managing a business, or handling a family. Whatever it is, writing almost always has to fight for its place. When I was writing Once in Cape Town or Luck, Fluke or Destiny?, time was not always on my side. I used to come home after hours of flying, make dinner, try to switch off from the day, and then somehow gather the energy to sit and write. Can you imagine the overflow of creative juices at that hour? Exactly. Perhaps that’s where the love for writing and the passion for storytelling come in. Writing is often perceived as a hobby, something people do in their free time. But if one were to write a book only in their free time, I’m not sure how many years it would take for that book to come into existence. Crafting a story requires time, and not just free time here and there, but dedicated time. Time that comes at the cost of rest, comfort, and sometimes even sleep. After all, you don’t find time to write, you make it. Fear of not finishing Imagine putting your heart and soul into something that never reaches completion. Imagine