As we’ve already discussed, almost everyone wants to write a book, but only 3 percent of those with the desire take the dive and see it through to the end. Will you be one of the brave who goes for it? Or will you remain a part of  the 97 percent who never fulfills their dream?

Here are 5 more reasons you’ve yet to start writing that book:

1. You don’t believe in yourself

As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” When it comes down to it, many goals are never achieved simply because of the mindset of the goal setter. If you don’t believe you can overcome shortcomings and improve your craft, you never will. Believe in your abilities. There’s nothing you can’t learn or be taught.

2. You don’t believe in your idea

As the author, it’s your job to persuade readers that you’ve got a story to tell that’s worth listening to. But it won’t be very convincing if you don’t have faith in the story yourself. Identify what elements, plot points, or details are gnawing at you and brainstorm how to tweak them to satisfaction. If you aren’t sure, you can bounce your idea off a loved one or critique partner and see what you come up with. Keep in mind that revision is inevitable, so don’t spend too much time on this! Be okay with an imperfect manuscript that you can strengthen with revision.

3. You’re not committed

You say you want to sit down and write, but you’re too busy. You keep getting distracted by social media. Your loved ones are stressing you out. Ultimately, you aren’t sure that you want to put in the time and dedication. So do you truly want to write the book? Or are you in love with the idea of having written one? Sometimes, it’s essential to sort out our motivations before pursuing a goal. You may find that there are other ways to go about achieving your desires.

4. Focusing too much on the big picture, instead of taking one step at a time.

Don’t focus on tackling the forest. Chop down one tree at a time. Do you want to pen a fantastical romance or a racy thriller? Are you interested in uncovering scandals and mysteries or studying the complexities of a morally gray institution? Who is your story about? What do they want and why? What gets in their way? Focusing on these smaller details will help you avoid being overwhelmed by a behemoth manuscript. And the more detailed your plan, the less likely you’ll be to give up.

5. You don’t know where to start

Whether it’s drawing a mind map or purging yourself of every idea you have for 15 minutes, do what you can to organize your idea and start at the beginning—or middle, or end, if that works for you. The goal is to simply choose a scene and get started.

Conclusion

There could be a million reasons you haven’t attempted writing that book yet, but it ultimately comes down to whether you’re willing to prioritize it or not. Don’t let fear or procrastination hold you back from achieving your dream! Click here to get started in 5 simple steps.