Friday, August 26, 2011

Fear of Failure

It came to me suddenly, and will not let me go.  It's an idea.  A story idea, to be specific.  The plot and characters are blooming in my mind, taking up permanent residence, demanding to be given a voice. 

And I'm scared.  Terrified, really.  I'm scared that:
  • I won't be able to do it
  • I'll get half way through the book, and get stuck, and won't be able to finish
  • I'll write trivial crap that nobody wants to read
  • That I'll be exposed and ashamed
  • I won't be able to flesh the characters out correctly
  • I have no idea how to go about getting published
  • Who would want to publish me, anyway?
  • And where, in my packed day, will I find the time? 
The entire process frightens me.  I think, really, because as long as I have known how to put words on paper, I have wanted to write a book.  I used to write and publish my own little books as a kid.  I had a whole series about Annie the Ant.  So this dream of writing a book is my oldest and dearest aspiration.  A lifetime of longings can stack up pretty high, and weigh mighty heavy.  Held up against that, the fear of failure is near overwhelming. 

3 comments:

  1. Have you looked into publishing on kindle? I know there was some hullabaloo about how anyone could put anything on it.

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  2. Not that yours would be just anything. I think the instance was regarding inaapropriate material, but it as saying that anyone could publish.

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  3. Don't let your fears stop you!!!!! Remember that you'll never know unless you try:)

    Oh, and Codex huh? I had to look her up but wow - thanks for the compliment LOL!

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