Expert Advice on How to Stay on Course and Realize Your Dream!

At one time or another, everyone has considered writing a book. For many, it’s a lifelong dream. For some, they have a story yearning to be told. For others, it’s a means to an end—gaining more followers, building a brand, or realizing profits. Writing a book is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, regardless of your motivation. And it’s also one many give up. 

“For many aspiring authors, the initial spark of inspiration—the idea of sharing their story or expertise with the world—burns brightly at first,” says Greg Clement, Founder of Freedomology and author of The Fat Switch. “Then fear creeps in. Fear that no one will buy the book, that no one will read it, and most of all, fear of harsh judgment if they do.”

This is only one of the many reasons why authors never see their names in print.

Rationalizing out of the inspiration comes easy to new and even seasoned authors. When facing a blank page, the idea of writing a book is abandoned for anything else, such as organizing the silverware drawer or cleaning the garage. As quickly as the Author’s Journey begins, it ends.

But if you’re serious about making this your year to write a book, it’s time to tackle your obstacles head-on. To help, take a moment to reflect on some of the most common reasons authors give up. Then, harness the wisdom and inspiration from the following published authors to help you push through, write your book, and, fingers crossed, see it on the bookshelves by year’s end.

Why Authors “Give Up” and How to Stay the Course.

Overwhelming Workload. The investment required to write and publish a book is daunting. “Writing and publishing also require time, resources, and resilience,” says Greg. “As life intervenes, we start rationalizing delays—“I’ll do it later,” we say, convincing ourselves that putting it off isn’t the same as quitting.” He reminds us that these postponements and rationalizations add up over time, resulting in a loop of indecision and inaction.

“That form of resistance is powerful, but it’s also worth remembering that on the other side of that fear is genuine freedom—the freedom to share your voice, to see your ideas in print, and to connect with the readers who need your message,” says Greg. “While writing a book and all the activities required to publish and market it can be overwhelming, he suggests taking it one step at a time. “A strong first-year goal might be to complete a polished manuscript—no matter how messy the initial drafts feel. By focusing on finishing your book, you develop discipline, clarity, and confidence in producing meaningful work.”

“Writing a book is a big commitment, and for many first-time authors, the process of completing a manuscript can take the better part of a year, which can feel overwhelming,” says Gail Taylor, Author of Curveballs – Unleashing Your Potential through Personal Growth and Inspirational Music. “My advice is to approach the process with both excitement and realism. Writing the manuscript is only the first step. Once the writing is done, your focus will shift to the publishing phase, which involves making key decisions about your goals.”

Publishing a book can often feel less about the book and more about followers.

So, the author inevitably spends much of their writing time in the marketing and digital space. Making social media videos and posts and finding clever ways to grab attention becomes a distraction and eventually a full-time job. This may deter even the most talented of authors. Excellent help through publicists and marketing firms is available, but they come with a price tag many authors can’t afford. “I learned about the different roles involved—author, editor, designer, publisher—and decided which ones to handle myself and which to delegate,” says Gail. She recommends doing your homework in advance and preparing in advance for the entire author’s journey.

To achieve your publishing dream, Gail recommends setting deadlines, creating outlines, and planning your path to publishing in advance. Her book launch was more successful because she built relationships with other authors and continuously engaged with her audience. She suggests any budding author do the same while keeping the vision alive.

“People often abandon the idea of writing a book because they lose sight of the excitement and adventure involved in sharing their ideas and stories with the world,” she says. “However, staying connected to the “why” behind the book—whether to inspire, inform, or entertain—can help authors push through the tough moments.”

No Accountability. Dreaming about becoming another is one thing, but it takes work, focus, and action to make that dream a reality. Accountability helps you achieve all three. 

“Resolutions fail because they are usually based on wishful thinking rather than an actionable plan,” says Eric Brown, CEO of Imperio Consulting and Author of The Green Beret Approach. “Without a plan or accountability, it’s easy to let this goal fade into the background.” He stresses the importance of written goals and applied accountability to keep you consistently focused and realizing progress. He recommends setting deadlines for writing content, sharing with a critique partner, submitting to agents and publishers, and developing your craft. “Even reading one book a month can sharpen your skills and inspire your writing.”

Find solutions that work for you. One repeatedly proven successful strategy is setting SMART (Smart, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) or Mark Murphy’s HARD (Heartfelt, Animated, Required, and Difficult) Goals. The more significant the goal, the more progress you’ll make. Then enlisting help— a trusted friend, family member, writing partner, or coach—to hold your feet to the fire is critical. Once you have your support in place, get going.

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect manuscript—it doesn’t exist,” says Greg. “Take the shot now. Every book finds its true power when it lands in the right reader’s hands, and sometimes, a good idea becomes a great one because the audience it touches is ready to receive it. Focus more on the people you want to help, entertain, or inspire. Ask yourself: “How can I make a difference for them?” By zeroing in on your readers, you’ll shape a message that resonates and truly matters. This year, commit fully and watch your vision take root. The world needs your voice—don’t hold it back.

Lack of Planning. “Solid annual goals for an author focus on consistency and progress,” says Eric. He believes setting a deadline for completing your draft creates a sense of urgency and moves the needle forward. Then, break down your goal into steps, including outlining, drafting, editing, seeking feedback, and finalizing. “Commit to a writing schedule and stick to it, even when motivation is low. For example, writing five hundred words daily is manageable and keeps you moving forward. These small daily wins build into significant progress over time.”

Gail wholeheartedly agrees. “When I started, I treated writing a book like managing a project. I learned about the roles involved—author, editor, designer, publisher—and decided which to handle myself and which to delegate.” She suggests taking the areas you want to focus on, such as writing the book, then breaking it into manageable tasks with deadlines. “It became far less intimidating and much more achievable. My advice is to approach the process with both excitement and realism. Writing the manuscript is only the first step. Once the writing is done, your focus will shift to the publishing phase, which involves making key decisions about your goals.”

Fear of Rejection: This is not a career for the faint of heart. Criticism and rejection before you even get your book on the market and all that comes afterward. Negative reviews, social media trolls, publisher and agent rejections are par for the course and often the most prominent reason authors quit.

“Many aspiring authors abandon the goal because they underestimate the process or get overwhelmed by self-doubt,” says Sheena Yap Chan, Keynote Speaker and Wallstreet Journal bestselling author on confidence and leadership. “Fear of judgment or rejection often stops people before they even begin. Additionally, distractions and lack of a clear plan can derail progress.” Sheena says it all comes down to confidence and belief in your story.

“Believe in your story,” she urges. “Your voice matters; an audience waits for what you can share.” Like her fellow experts, she suggests creating goals, developing a plan, setting realistic deadlines, and establishing accountability.“ Most importantly, don’t let perfectionism hold you back,” she says. “Progress is better than perfection. Publishing your book is not just about the final product but about embracing the author’s journey of bringing your unique story into the world.”

The most successful antidote to these obstacles is belief in yourself. Staying true to who you are does not allow roller-coaster emotions or your inner critic to derail your progress.

“As a former coach, I tried to keep kids level-headed,” says Joseph Lewis, best-selling and award-winning author of The Lives Trilogy. “Don’t get too high, not get too low. Because if you are high, the only place you can go is lower. Stay even. Stephen King says bluntly, “Someone will make you feel bad if you write.” I agree.

“The key is to write honestly and sincerely as possible and only for yourself,” says Joseph. “If you do that and are happy, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. There will always be those who will like it and those who won’t. If you like it, it’s all that matters.”

Image Courtesy of Pexels and Markus Winkler