Writing isn't solitary! The criticality of community

Yet Podcast Episode 35

Reasons not to write your book

It's been said that 80% of Americans say they want to write a book, but only about 1% ever actually do.

I'm no math major, but those stats lead me to believe that lots of would-be authors have stories to tell that never make it to seeing the light of day.

I think it's time we change that.

There are many reasons NOT to write your book, and in this mini-series, I'm going to focus on three that I believe are common among many writers.

*Spoiler alert* - none of these reasons are good ones :)

Reason #3 - Lack of Community

People may not fail to start writing because of a lack of community, but I do think that many a writer has failed to keep writing because of it. 

Many of us naturally view writing a book as a solitary endeavor, but it’s not all sitting in a quiet cabin with a pipe and a fireplace and rain falling in the forest outside. 

To complete and publish a book, it truly does take a village. Writing coaches, You may need Alpha readers, Beta readers, ARC readers, editors, agents, publishers, a launch team - the list goes on. 

If you’re going to end up with a published book, you’ll need to truly rely on quite a few other people to make it happen. 

And that’s to say nothing of the real heroes - the encouragers. 

When fear of failure kicks in, when your imposter syndrome gets the best of you, when writing just gets really hard - who do you have in your corner who can offer consistent feedback, accountability, and encouragement? 

I’ve become convinced that a lack of encouragement is a huge book-killer, and in this episode we’ll tackle the role and value of community, and how to find it. 

A good, healthy community will likely look like a combination of close family and friends, other writers, and hired professionals. 

What your community will look like is negotiable. That you have a community in your corner is essential. 

About T.C. Burr

After years of putting it off, I have started writing my debut novel—a story about friendship, and about growing up. It follows the lives of a group of young men as they navigate the world between two mountainous seasons of life, with all the twists, turns and trials that come with growing up.

Through this podcast, I aim to highlight inspiring stories from fellow writers, entrepreneurs, and creatives, offering encouragement and practical advice for those pursuing their own creative and business ventures.

A dream left on the shelf is one of life's greatest regrets.

Today's a great day to get started.

It's not that you haven't done it, it's just that you haven't done it yet.

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