I had a client who began to talk herself out of the project after the book was almost complete.
Keep in mind this had nothing to do with money – the project was already paid for. The client simply began second-guessing herself.
- She wondered if there would be a market for her story.
- She wondered if young readers would be interested in the story.
- She wondered if she was just wasting her time.
I was able to convince her that ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained.’ I told her that you just never know – her book could influence children. Even if a book influences one child, that’s one child you’ve reached.
Before this client, I don’t remember ever having a client try to talk herself out of possible success. But then I came across an email from the Morning Nudge by Suzanne Lieurance.
After reading it, I realized that many people, including myself, talk themselves out of success.
For years, I tried to make money writing. I tried a number of different arenas, including business writing, academic writing, health writing, and children’s writing. For a long while, nothing seemed to click.
And, with the ‘feast or famine’ freelance writing business, it’s easy to get discouraged and feel like packing it in.
Fortunately, I kept plugging away. I didn’t talk myself out of success. I may have done other things to delay it, but now I have a successful children’s ghostwriting business and even, at times, need to hire subcontractors.
The point is that you never know when or where you’ll find success. You need to keep at it and stop talking yourself out of success.
In fact, do the opposite. Talk yourself into success!
Here’s some of what author and writing coach Lieurance says about it:
If you have trouble taking action to reach your goals, ask yourself this question, “Am I talking myself out of success?”
I see people do this all the time.
They say they want something, but in the next breath they start justifying why they can’t (or probably can’t) do, have, or be the very thing they want.
Sound familiar?
We all do this from time to time, and most of the time, we don’t even realize we’re doing it.
So, write this question on an index card and place it near your computer (or on your kitchen counter) so you can see it throughout the day—Am I talking myself out of success?
Then, if you hesitate to take action toward your goals today, look at this question.
It will help you realize the only thing keeping you from success is that you keep talking yourself out of it.
And once you realize you’re doing this, you can stop doing it.
To get your own daily nudge, subscribe to Suzanne Lieurance’s Morning Nudge!
I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, rewriter, editor, and coach. I can help turn your story into a book you’ll be proud to be the author of, one that’s publishable and marketable. OTHER HELP I OFFER: HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S FICTION BOOK A DIY book to help you write your own children’s book. PICTURE BOOK, CHAPTER BOOK, MIDDLE GRADE COACHING Four to twelve-week coaching programs. WRITERS ON THE MOVE SELF-PUBLISHING SERVICE Self-publishing help for children’s authors. You can contact me at: kcioffiventrice@gmail.com. Or give me a call at 347—834—6700. (Please leave a message- I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.)
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Be a Successful Writer Even if You Don’t Think You Have Enough Time
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