Do you feel called to write a book, but don’t know where to start?
Do you have a story inside you that you know would change many people’s lives?
This was my story—before I became an author.
When I share that with people, I find many others who feel the same way.
We are in a divine time right now in which God is calling us to step up to a new level.
As you step out in faith and take a risk, there will be a high return for your efforts. And with the Internet and self-publishing options at our fingertips, this is a divine time to write a book like never before.
“But I have never written before …”
In 2002, I woke up at 5 a.m. with the urge to get up and write. Then over the next two weeks I was inspired to write in the early hours of the morning before work. I wrote a small outline for what, I hoped, would someday be a book.
Then I spent the next three years avoiding finishing the rest of the manuscript.
I had a lot of good reasons excuses.
First, I was not yet a writer. From there, my list of excuses progressed even more: I do not have time to write. What if people do not like it? What if I fail?
My problem was that I was afraid and I was trying to be perfect. I was comparing myself to other writers and was focusing more on why I could not do it instead of finding creative ways to break through and tap into God’s unlimited power for us all.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Even though we have most all that we need to do what we are being called to, somehow when it comes to writing a book many of us struggle terribly.
How fear can hold us back
So what was stopping me? Though I was not consciously aware of it at the time, I came to realize later that I had fear of failure.
It was so painful every time I sat down to write because I had never written a book before, and I was never that good at English in school.
I thought my book would turn out badly and people would dislike it.
Most people battle with some kind of fear in their lives. This could be the fear of the unknown, fear of being wrong, or even the fear of doing something that is not in God’s timing. Quite often, we do nothing new at all. But God is calling us to break through these fears.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
The lie of perfectionism
Another thing that can hold us back is trying to be too perfect.
I have been dealing with perfectionism most of my life. But perfectionism is a lie that tells you that you, or what you are doing, are not good enough.
Most people have what that they need to get started and take the next step into their destiny, but often it is perfectionism that holds us back.
It took me several years to break through my fears and perfectionism, and finally write my first book. I am so glad that I did because now I discovered that I actually have a better ability to write than I realized.
And I have people in my life that can help me with the areas that I am not good at, like grammar, spelling and formatting. I have now written several books and I have helped thousands of people write theirs as well with this online course.
Just take the next step
To do anything new, it only takes a few small steps to get started. Once you start, then momentum will kick in and take you to a new level.
Do you have a story?
Then take time and write out a page or so of notes about it.
Maybe you have a book started but need to finish it?
Just take the next few small steps and you will be amazed at what will happen.
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Wish you had someone to coach you as you write your book? Check out my Write Your Book Now online course.
This online teaching has helped people, including Christian & Lyneesha Johnson, write their first book. Christian & Lyneesha went through Write Your Book Now and they recently emailed me to share their exciting news:
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“I would like to thank you Doug for your teaching on how to write a book.
This information has helped my wife and I write our first eBook, which is a 7-day devotional that was designed to encourage and renew the marriage relationship! Your teaching and supporting documents are a step-by-step map that leads from the beginning straight to a finished product. I thank God for you!” – Christian & Lyneesha Johnson, authors of I Speak Life. |
I look forward to hearing from you, too, when you publish your first book!
Blessings,
Doug Addison
DougAddison.com
Doug Addison is a prophetic speaker, author and coach. He is known for his Daily Prophetic Words, Spirit Connection webcast, podcast, and blog. Doug’s message of love, hope and having fun reaches people around the world! His powerfully, positively funny style of teaching and coaching helps open people to discover their destiny and experience God’s supernatural love and power. He and his wife Linda live in Los Angeles, California where he is impacting the arts and entertainment and media industries.
hi Doug, i would like to tell you about a time i heard God correctly.
We have a new women’s refuge in our area, it has been open for one year. i was praying about it and had a distinct message that many women land up there in the clothes they stand in and that spare PJs and knickers were needed. The Lord told me to go to our Target store at a certain time which I did and discovered that there was a sale of knickers and Pjs, so i loaded a trolley up with heaps of them of all sizes, wondering if i was simply going potty. I phoned the refuge and the lady in charge came and picked up the huge bagful. the amount i paid was $250 for the lot yet when they added all the original dockets on each garment the full price would have been $2,500. So God had given me the articles for the refuge as tithing rates! How good is our God.
Best wishes
Robyn
Doug,
I have a book finished. I need two things one is someone to preview it and the other is finances.
I’d also need to find out how to do e-books.
In Him,
Deloris
I’d be willing to preview it for you. I’ve done that for several authors in the past few years.
Would you elaborate on self- publishing options?
Dear Doug,
Thank you for this post. Yes I do need to finish a book! Last week my employer told me that they decided not to extend my contract.
The morning before I had that conversation, I heard God saying to me; your contract will not be renewed I want you to write a lot in December, so your book will be finished.
Reading your post is another confirmation. I already have your E-book about writing and I am so looking forward to the day that I can send you my testimony.
Best Wishes,
Mieke
Great article! I’ve used many of the ideas Doug writes about in my own blog site. I especially felt a connection to the hindrance of perfectionism and fear. In my case, I felt convicted to start a blog in February and just to write on subjects to the best of my ability, not that everything I wrote would be perfect and 100% accurate according to a well-trained pastor, prophet or other person in ministry. After writing a few weeks, I ended up really being strongly led in the direction of writing on what I learned from dream interpretation. As a result, I somehow ended up writing most of my articles on that topic and I frequently refer to Doug many times in my articles!! My fear has been that sometimes I’m probably wrong on a topic I write about but that’s part of the learning process. I decided even if I miss on something, to just write anyway since most of what I say will be in the ballpark of correct. That’s the perfectionism and fear aspects but I defeated it by taking that risk and just putting “stuff” out there. Now that I’ve been doing that and following Doug’s daily prophetic words, I began to stretch into additional creative pursuits like (just recently) creating little animated videos which will be part of my blog. I don’t have a huge following but some people do read what I write!! Regardless though, it’s fun, productive, and I’m learning a ton from putting my own thoughts down on these digital screens. Again, thank you to Doug Addison for the advice here!
Thank you for this message. I have a draft but it peters out at the end. God gave me the insights to write it. He wants this interpretation of the Old Testament told. He spoke to me a few months ago saying ‘ you haven’t written it yet’. Well my work contract has not been renewed and even though I have no income to pay the house etx I know I have to write this. As I do I believe He will provide. Thank you
Doug:
Excellent article on perfectionism. I see some of my traits in this article. I too should have written a book a long time ago but I just haven’t known how to get started. Going through a painful transition too!
Thanks,
Leslie
I am writing for God, and there’s the link on my Facebook, lol. Timing. So, yeah, I’m receiving. Whooooo!!!!! And I expect this will go smoothly and powerfully. Praise Jesuuuus!!!!!
I appreciate and glorify God !
Amen! Bless you, Willy!
I don’t think it’s fear of failing that’s holding me back. Instead, it seems that the place where my creativity lives is right next to where my past hurts and griefs lie. The process of writing is actually painful – and so I avoid it, do anything else. How do I develop the courage to push through the pain? (prayers appreciated!) I want to write a series about a group of women who craft together, with each book focusing on the challenges a different woman is living through, so it’s going to be a marathon, not a sprint. The first, about a young woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, is about halfway thru the first draft – but I haven’t made myself touch it in months. The shame is even interfering with my relationship with God, so I’ve got to get through this.
Blessing your writing ability!
Everything written in the article above speaks about me. Afraid of language, perfection….
I’m sure I’ll find the right start here.
Glad you enjoyed it! God bless you!