Have you ever wondered why some writers get stuck in the writing and revising loop and they never level-up and put their work out into the world? I was on a Zoom call yesterday, and a writer friend and I realized simultaneously that our critique group members weren’t publishing.  Back in the day, before self and hybrid publishing, being an unpublished writer usually wasn’t a choice. Agents and editors had all the control. But now, thanks to Amazon and Ingram Sparks, we writers have options. If we want to put our work out into the world, we can. So why doesn’t everyone publish?

There’s the money excuse. But the reality is, self-publishing is relatively inexpensive. Creating and self-publishing a professional quality book costs on average between $500 and $2,500. This price is the same as a midrange vacation, a new laptop or television, a designer handbag, or an electric bike. And there are ways to cut costs. Writers can publish just an eBook, they can use free or inexpensive writing tools, they can design their cover with Canva, or use critique groups and beta readers to edit their manuscripts.  

So if self-publishing isn’t cost prohibitive for most people, what’s holding writers back?

I can only speak for myself, but bear in mind, I wrote for twenty years before publishing. Below are the eight reasons I didn’t push the ‘publish’ button and how I got past my excuses.

1. I was overwhelmed, believing I didn’t know enough about selling, marketing, and the publishing industry to succeed. Although I’d attended conferences, local industry talks, and I’d researched on the internet, I knew that I hadn’t truly gasped the nuances of publishing, and I didn’t know where to begin. My solution was to publish my first novel with a hybrid publisher. That publisher walked me through the process. After that, I felt comfortable and confident enough to self-publish after that.
2. I was fixated on being traditionally published. I believed that I would never be a real legitimate writer if I didn’t have an agent and an editor. But through self-publishing I’ve come to learn that it’s my readers that matter most. I’ve shifted my focus off the Big Five and onto my readers. This new perspective has changed everything.
3. I wanted everyone to like my novel and if someone found fault with it, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t ready to publish. But I’ve since learned that my books aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay. If my people, my readers, like my stuff, I’m golden.
4. I was a perfectionist. I thought that my books had to be perfect for my words to touch and inspire readers. No spelling errors. The perfect dialogue. No excess description. But I now know that’s not the case. Of course, we want our books to be as polished as possible, but if we forget to dot an “I” or we ramble on a sentence too long, readers are still going to take something from our stories. Writing is subjective. No novel is perfect.
5. I didn’t know why I was writing. Some writers have a clear purpose. They want to help abuse victims, they want to teach kids to be kind, or they want to share their experience as a cancer survivor. But because I wrote fiction, I saw my books as frivolous entertainment. But by reading my book reviews, I’ve uncovered my purpose. I am writing to encourage people to pause before they judge others and give them grace. Knowing this purpose drives me to publish. If you are hesitating to publish your work, think hard about why you’re writing.
6. I didn’t know how to sell or market. Because of this, I feared my books wouldn’t sell. The truth is, I still don’t know how to sell and market as well as I’d like. But I’m learning. Each time, I take action and publish a book, I learn a new skill or technique. It’s taking action, that’s upped my game.
7. I didn’t surround myself with published writers. This was my situation until I made it a point to meet and interact with published authors. Their knowledge, guidance, and encouragement have made all of the difference. Join that critique group or that local writing club. Who you spend your time with matters.
8. I used my introversion as an excuse and a reason for not stepping outside my comfort zone and publishing. The truth was, I was comfortable writing my books and putting them in drawers and didn’t want my life to change. The idea of speaking at events terrified me. But in recent years, I’ve come embrace the mantra that growth and success happen only when you push yourself beyond your comfort zone, and it’s paying off.

Thanks for reading my blog. If dream of publishing and are holding back, I encourage you to be bold and take action! I welcome your comments! Do you recognize your self in this article? Tell me.