Author Archives: Molly Ovenden

10 Questions to Ask so You Can Habitually Finish Your Book–or Books!

Is this you?

So many people loved writing when they were in school, but once adulthood set in, they believed they only had time for serious endeavors which don’t include writing. 

So many people believe they’ve got a book in them, but they feel scared or uncertain about starting, or just can’t seem to find the time. 

So many people have started writing a book, but haven’t finished because they’ve burnt out with perfectionism, fizzled out with fear about what others might think of them, or they procrastinated and ran out of time and motivation.

You don’t have to be one of these people. 

The fact that you’re here, taking in these words, shows me that YOU ARE A BRILLIANT WRITER! You’ve got a desire to learn, to get your words from brain to page, and to truly make an epic and life-changingly positive impact on the world.

You CAN do this. You CAN write this book. You CAN get your book published and into the hands of those readers who will devour your words.

When you find yourself struggling to show up for your daily writing or you’re at the edge of the finish line, but dragging your feet, here are 10 lovingly convicting questions to ask yourself (perhaps via reflective journal entry) to find the courage you need to follow through.

1. Who are you as a writer?

Identity is so important when we write. If you don’t know who you are, it will be really challenging to write authentically. Often writers resist becoming authors, resisting publication, resisting the accountability for finishing what you said was important. 

If you don’t know who you are, then you don’t have a certainty about whom you’re making this writing promise to, to finish your book. When you know who you are as a writer and creative and who you want to be, you begin to stand on a firmer foundation. You begin to live with more focus. Each action you take can bring you into life living as that person, or becoming someone else completely different.

Try this: I want to be a writer who (fill in the blank).

2. How does what you are actually writing resonate with who you are?

You might find that a reason you are struggling to make time every day for your creative writing habits is because it just doesn’t feel like you’re the one to write it. Are you writing something in the way you think it “should be written” or are you writing in a way that feels authentic to you personally and in your own voice? Do you actually need to write this? Or, is this writing something someone else could do instead of you?

Try this: Read a selection of your book out loud. How well does it read aloud? Take notes and make adjustments accordingly in revision time.

3. Who is your reader?

Think of a single person you are telling your story to. In your imagination, bring them into your room. Perhaps, if your ideal reader is a couple different people, set out metaphorical chairs in your writing room for these few people and then write like you’re speaking or reading to just them. 

You may argue your book is for more than these couple of folks, or even that it’s for everyone. That’s great! You’ve got massive vision. But, it’s important you speak directly to these individuals so your readers know the story is for them. If you speak to the crowd, it all tends to get muddy and harder for your readers to connect with you and the stories you’re trying to share.

Try this: Imagine your ideal reader sat in the chair across from you. Pay attention to what they are doing or saying and allow them to react and respond while you read and write.

4. How does what you are actually writing help your reader?

Think of your actual ideal reader. How is what you’re writing for them bringing inspiration or helping them learn or entertaining them? It can be tempting to write for the agent or publisher or your 2nd grade teacher who told you you’d never write anything good. 

But unless they are a picture of your ideal reader, don’t bring them into your living room to tell them your story. Writing can be a fight to get the words out. When you consider who your words will actually help, this can bring clarity and the second wind of endurance you need to finish strong.

Try this: As you already have your ideal reader sat in the chair across from you, read your words out loud to them. Think critically whether what you’ve written resonates with them. You may want to imagine their facial expressions. Even better could be to get your literal ideal reader together with you and ask them for focused feedback.

5. Why are you writing this book?

If you’re like most creative people, you’ve probably got heaps of inspiration and ideas mulling around in that imagination of yours. Knowing why you’ve chosen to write this particular one can be a gift of clarity to help you finish it. 

There was one point when it seemed like the best idea in the world to work on this book right now. Take a moment to remember why this is important to you. 

Also, think about some of the other books you would like to write. They won’t get written if you don’t finish this one. Use the promise of the next book you want to write to propel you onward. Perhaps you have a series in mind or a collection – those books need each other.

Try this: Make a list of reasons why you chose to write this book. Put the list somewhere you can see it regularly. Read it out loud to yourself as often as it takes.

6. What are you most excited about for this book?

If you’ve been working on this book for a while, it might have lost its sparkle from conception. Maybe you’re in the messy middle and it feels very messy and all you can think of is how much it’s going to take to clean it all up and make sense of all the mind mud. 

Maybe you’ve been saying things like this for months (to yourself and others), “I’m very nearly finished…I just have the last little details to polish…just one last bit to sort out…” This can be demoralizing and prolong the finishing.

Try this: Make a list of 3-5 aspects of your book that excite you. You may refer to some pieces on your previous list. And, you may use future books as an incentive to get excited enough to propel you to the finish. Put your list somewhere you can read it and remember as often as it takes.

7. What would happen to your readers if you never finished this book?

The reality is that perhaps nothing would happen if you never finished writing this book. But, consider your readers again. If you feel compelled to write something, to persevere through actually finishing a bunch of words in book form and getting it out into the world, then it’s likely worth finishing. 

It’s worth finishing because of who the words are for. Your readers may continue feeling sad and not knowing how to escape and if they don’t read your novel, they won’t learn about the magical land of Smorithinya and its mystical beings, the Carinchimpfs who can only fly with their eyes closed. If you don’t finish your book, your readers will never experience the connection they would have when they read your memoir – their feelings of being outcast and uninspired will remain. They will still be stuck in their issues and unsure how to go forward – even though your book, were you to finish it, would provide some answers.

Try this: Imagine: What would happen to your readers if you never finished this book?

8. What will it feel like to see people devouring your book?

You’ll never know the feeling of how your words impact the world in a positive way if you don’t finish writing your book and putting it out into the world. But to imagine how big of a rippling and far reaching impact that it could make? All of the potential it could have? If only you finished getting your words on the page and submitted. 

But, how cool to watch the delight in young readers’ eyes. How cool to witness the transformation in a person when you walk them through the step-by-step process of how you overcame obstacles. How amazing it will feel to hear about how much your book meant to your readers.

Try this: Imagine: What will it feel like to see people devouring your book?

9. When are you writing?

The human mind and emotions and body and soul are complicated. These all play a role in our stick-to-it-ness of finishing the book, but also toward how you feel during your writing times. 

Even though last season worked really well to write in the early morning, now the sun rises earlier and you find it too distracting to watch the sunrise. Perhaps you’ve changed your diet or exercise routine and now you need to make sure you eat before you write instead of after like you did last year. There are so many factors which it might be helpful to consider.

Try this: Take an honest assessment of the time of day, the length of time, the frequency each week. Assess what you’re doing before and after your writing time, too. Determine whether this is the best time and schedule for you to continue using. Make a change, if necessary.

10. What needs to happen for you to keep the momentum?

Sometimes life gets in the way and we need to restructure life and our writing schedule for them to work and play well together. Sometimes saying “no” to late nights with friends or family extras needs to happen for a season. Sometimes riding the wave of inspiration needs to happen even though it’s late into the night. 

What habits are preventing you from moving forward to cross the finish line? What habits would help to slingshot you across the finish? What is something awesome (or not-so-awesome) that has actually been keeping you from finishing? Even good things can hold us back. 

Try this: Consider what you could pause for a season that could help you finish your book. Then, have the conversation to get extra help. Buy noise canceling headphones. Put your writing pants on – whatever it takes, and keep the momentum.

That’s it. Those are the questions to ask so you can habitually finish your book–or, books!

Consider each of these questions as much as you need to, but please, don’t use trying to find the best answers for each question as another thing to prevent you from finishing your book. There are so many reasons which could prevent us from finishing. From health issues, to busy seasons at work, to creative blockages from fear, imposter syndrome, perfectionism. Whatever your “thing” is that’s preventing you from finishing, get some help. 

Do the inner work yourself to be able to address it with these questions and then you’ve got a starting point to get the help you need. Depending on the topic, you could be experiencing resistance due to the highly emotional content or you could be experiencing resistance if you feel like you’re not the most qualified person to talk about this issue or teach this subject. 

Perhaps interviewing an expert for your topic’s research could help. Maybe a session with a counselor could help un-pick what’s holding you back. An accountability writing group who meet regularly could be just the ticket. Enrolling in writing classes and hiring a creative writing coach could be just what you need. 

Do what it takes. Tell a friend. Ask for help. Remind yourself of the writer you are and who you want to be. Remind yourself of who will miss out if you don’t finish. Get your words out from your brain to the page and into the hands of readers who will devour your book! Put the stake in the ground and write. You can totally do this. I believe in you!

Happy writing!

Hey, I’m Molly Ovenden. Author, Creative Writing Coach, Visual Artist, Perseverance Expert. Let’s talk to see if working with a Creative Writing Coach is your next best step. Schedule your free call now.