Are the “Unknowns” Preventing You from Writing Your Book?

I’d like to think that I know a thing or two about allowing the “unknowns” in life take over and derail my plans…

For example, when I first started writing books of my own, I would get 80-90% of the way through the draft and then just…

stop.

Why?

Because I didn’t know what would come next. I didn’t know what editing and layout and cover design and publishing and royalties looked like.

Let’s be real:

If you never finish writing your book, you never have to figure out publishing!

If you never finish writing your book, you never have to figure out how to publish it. Is that what you REALLY want? Click To Tweet

The same thing happened to me last year when I was pregnant. I couldn’t imagine what life with a baby looked like. So a lot of my life just… stopped. I get it that nobody has a crystal ball but I just couldn’t wrap my head around how life would be the same and how it would change.

I didn’t even know where to begin. So I stayed stuck. Playing small. Being miserable (and broke) and then feeling bad about myself and my lack of “progress.”

Here’s the thing about me: I actually rarely procrastinate. But because I’m always busy doing something—and telling myself it’s an activity that is getting me closer to a goal—I can tell myself I’m making progress.

Yet, when there are so many moving parts at any one time, I get stuck knowing where to start, what to do next (or what to do first!), and how to keep everything I’m doing moving forward.

This is a classic definition of Unknowns Inducing Overwhelm or UIO.

When that negative, viscous cycle starts up in your head and you can’t sleep. When the “Whatifs” have their party – and start partying about things you didn’t even know you were worried about until you suddenly can’t sleep.

BTW: I had an impromptu 7 am meeting with my tax guy this morning over just that. I couldn’t move forward—at all—without getting some answers. Now the fact that my tax guy is my dad and there was coffee, bacon, and grandson snuggles involved is just a happy accident!

I doubt that the process of writing (or not writing) you book is actually what is keeping you up at night. Frankly, in the whole scheme of UIOs, it’s probably not on your mind.

But all those unknowns ARE on your radar. At some level that unfulfilled desire is nagging you – as much as dirty dishes in the sink, mountains of laundry, not enough money, the missed deadline, the forgotten item in the yard…

It ALL contributes to overwhelm. But unlike things you can see (unfolded laundry or a messy desk) or the things you know have immediate and lasting impact (skinny bank accounts) unfulfilled desires are more insidious in how they add to your UIO list.

Because you KNOW that you have this dream: be a best-selling author.

And you know there are steps (and sub-steps!): marketing, writing, cover designs, publishing, editing, layout, your message.

But you know that you’re only looking at half a picture of all the steps AND you’re not certain the order of the steps for the pieces you can see.

Then add in the feeling of failure or guilt as you flip another month on the calendar and realize that you still haven’t finished (or started). It’s wrestling spending a beautiful afternoon outside or at the computer, getting words onto paper. Overwhelm in your life means your message gets pinched – and you don’t write.

So what can you do?

Let’s start with the end in mind. For MOST people, the whole publishing process—especially for people who want to make a big impact with their book—is the biggest hang-up, unknown aspect that induces overwhelm, and the place it feels most comfortable to start getting your answers.

Which is why joining me at “Your Bestseller – LIVE! Market Your Message to Bestseller Status” happening September 28-30, 3018 in Prescott, Arizona, is what you need to do.

You’ll leave this event transformed. And knowing what goes in your book (and what doesn’t) so your message can reach the masses. You’ll also walk away with a customized marketing plan for YOUR book.

But you’ve got to get your hustle on. Spaces are filling quickly.

Reserve Your Seat.

Kim Galloway
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