Do I have what it takes to write a book?

This question is one of the main reasons people never attempt to write a book. In fact, when I was working on my first picture book, The Boy Who Picked His Nose, I vividly remember feeling stuck in the depths of despair. (I know super dramatic) But seriously, as I sat at my computer desk staring at my husband sitting on our leather couch with a look on his smug face like, “I hope you don’t spend all our money on a book we don’t know is profitable….” I remember feeling completely incompetent, hopeless and unworthy of the title: Author. There were and still are so many people who know how to write a book and professionally publish a book.

These experts who are closer to the inner workings of publishing could publish my book, faster and better than I ever could. This thought really made me want to give up.

Luckily, I’m incredibly stubborn, as my husband says, and I decided to talk myself through the doubt and sad emotions I was feeling.

Over time, 2 years to be exact, I learned what to do and how to do it.

In the end, I published my book because I believed in my story, I knew others would enjoy it, and I knew I would regret it if I didn’t.

So, how to know if you have what it takes to write and publish a book?

Ask yourself these questions:

Question 1: Do you have a vision for your story?

When I ask this, I mean, do you know what is going to be in your story and what emotion do you want your readers to feel when they read your story?

When I think about each of my books, I picture in my head my readers’ reaction to each moment as they read the story and I picture their overall emotion towards the summary of the book. I saw this in my head, I felt it in my heart, and I wanted it to happen in reality. This is the way I envision every single book.

You can ask yourself more detailed questions like what do I want readers to feel when they read my book? and what other published books are like mine? You can get an Author Vision Board to narrow your focus and create a detailed vision here.

Question 2: Are you willing to learn?

Self-publishing is a JOURNEY! For those of us who come out on the other side, we exhale a bated breath because of the roller coaster we just experienced. The information available to indie authors is overwhelming. Trying to learn and even find the RIGHT thing to learn, takes time and determination.

Again, 2 years it took me to figure it all out. There are many resources that can help you publish, but I always recommend the best. The free Self-Publish Program helps new authors publish their book step-by-step. In this kind of program, you can learn each step of the process while accessing the resources available to them that they might not ever learn about on their own.

If you are willing to learn how to publish, instead of having other people publish for you, you can create as many books as you’d like for the rest of your life! As quickly as you want too! Knowledge is power and you can learn how to write and publish your book!

Question 3: Will you not give up?

When the process gets hard, will you simply say, “I can’t do this?” Remember this, anything worth achieving is difficult. The reason you haven’t written a book yet might be because it’s not easy and all of your energy has been focused on other difficulties you face. To achieve this dream of becoming an author and holding a copy of your own book for the first time takes work.

Keep in mind the vision you have so you can trudge through the hard parts of the writing and publishing process. Remember your WHY. Because if you don’t, the regret you’ll have later in life may never leave you.

Truly, I think anyone can write a book, even if they are a crappy writer. With the right knowledge, tools, and work ethic, your book can be just as professional as any published book out there.

Don’t give up on yourself. You can totally do this!

You can also follow me on all my social media accounts where I regularly give Self-Publishing Tips.

Good luck future authors!