Shouldn't i win the Nobel prize for literature | One writer's fear of failure

Hey there, this is the first in a series of post called, Confessions of a Book Coach. Some people know me as the founder and host of Author Nation. I am the person behind the resources, the write ins, the Facebook group and all the things that bring that community together and offer support to the authors in the community.

I am a book coach and a developmental editor and I have helped many authors write and publish their books with confidence. That is what I do. I champion authors.

Hiding My Work

Now, what you might not know about me is that I have a habit of writing books and then hiding them away where no one can read them. Which is fine, I suppose, if your hobby is to write books no one will ever read.

But if you want to be a published author, that is not a strategy that works. Trust me. So I am going to publish a book by the end of July and every week I am going to talk about the journey, the ups, downs and the in betweens.

My biggest crazy fear is that if I don’t write some award winning book, and I mean, Shouldn’t I win Nobel Prize for Literature? And if I don’t? I am not good enough. I am a book coach and developmental editor, after all. My fears are paralyzing.

Is there some area of your life where you feel this way?

Someone reminded recently that In 2019, I took my memoir, and created a solo show which I performed over 10 days, with 10 shows. My co-producer/director and I did the whole thing. She directed. I wrote it, others helped me polish it. It included story, poetry, and song. We rented the theatre, did the marketing, I showed up for 10 performances. In front of strangers. If I can do that why can’t I write the damn book?

I didn’t feel that same level of pressure to be perfect as a solo artist. I was okay to be human. It’s okay to be human! I interview guests every Thursday, and when someone is nervous, I remind them it is okay to be human. Perfect people are suspicious. Don’t you ever wonder? Is she really a robot? Or does her house look like that when the camera is off?

My UnPerfect Memoir

This journey, starting today, will be about creating a nonperfect book, one that is good enough to be published. To do that I will push forward, ask for help, talk about my fears, show my progress, and give sneak peaks into the book itself.

I will keep track of my progress every day, and once a week on Mondays, I will vlog about whatever came up that week. Maybe it will help you. I hope so.

My Hopes for this Series

Two outcomes I want from this series

A book in the world so that I can finishing publishing the other books that live either in my computer of in my head.
A resource for other writers like me, who struggle to show their work. Whose fear gets in their way!

This Week's Goals

This week, here’s what I plan to do.

Edit the first three chapters and their vignettes with the aim to give the entire manuscript to beta readers at some point
Figure out when they point should be – give myself a beta reader deadline and start looking for beta readers
Draft a promotion plan that I can start doing – not later, now – as I finish the book so that promotion is not an afterthought.
Announce to the world that I am writing this book! Where? On social media, here, in my writing communities

That's a Wrap

Number one done. I’ll be back next Monday with the second post for Confessions of a Book Coach.

“You never get over your fear of writing.“ – Maya Angelou

There are so many reasons to write your nonfiction book for you and for your career.

– Keep writing

Melody Ann

Check out Author Nation if you too are writing a book!

Shouldn’t i win the Nobel prize for literature | One writer’s fear of failure