Description

Ever found yourself slumped over your laptop, cursing the day you ever thought writing a book was a good idea? You're not alone. 

Writing a book is one of the most challenging things you'll ever do - and there's a reason why most people who start one never finish. But why exactly is it so damn hard?

In this episode, I dive into the emotional rollercoaster of book writing and why we find ourselves wanting to throw our laptops out the window on a regular basis.

I explore:

• The emotional side of writing that we rarely talk about – and why focusing only on the practical stuff sets us up for a nasty surprise
• Why being a "beginner" at something feels so uncomfortable (and why I'm still a total beginner at mystery writing, despite having written eight non-fiction books)
• How our unrealistic expectations and high standards can turn the writing process into a special kind of torture
• Why the "shitty first draft" is not just allowed but necessary – and why comparing your first draft to published books is a recipe for despair
• How our modern inability to be bored or do challenging things for sustained periods makes writing feel even harder
• Why breaking down your book into small, manageable chunks rather than thinking about "50,000 words" can save your sanity
• The importance of finding your tribe so you don't have to shoulder all those writing emotions alone

The truth is, writing a book will still feel tough at times – no magic wand makes the challenging bits disappear. But understanding why it feels so difficult can help you be kinder to yourself through the process. The peaks and troughs are par for the course, so let’s be ready to tackle them, eh?

If you’re ready to embrace the messy, frustrating, occasionally incredible journey of writing your book, listen to discover why it's normal to find writing hard and how to push through anyway. 

Because while writing a book is challenging, it's also one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do for yourself and your business.

Further resources from me

• 
  Sign up for the FREE Write Stuff newsletter here.
• 
  Happy Writers Hub - The Happy Writers Hub - all info and link to join is here
• 
  My book, ‘Dare to Write: How to Write a Nonfiction Book to Grow Your Business,’ is available now on Amazon and on my website.

Connect with Steph:

Website: https://stephcaswell.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephcaswellauthor/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephcaswell/

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review on your favourite podcast platform!