What happens to an aspiring author who desperately wants to become a published author but can’t follow through on their dream because they have a very real fear of being visible?
More often than not, they give up on their dream. How sad is that?
They might want to pour their heart and soul into creating something they can proudly say is theirs but instead of putting their time and energy into writing their book, they put it aside for tomorrow and we all know tomorrow never comes.
They fill up their time up with ‘more important‘ things, take on other responsibilities, put others first, and they seem to find a whole lot of excuses as to why they can’t possibly find the time to write a book.
Then, as the saying goes, they go to the grave with their book still inside.
But what if there was a way to work through those fears so that you could realise your dream and allow yourself to have the experience of a lifetime?
Today I want to talk about that.
I want to explore where the fear of being visible comes from and look at the different ways in which authors can overcome those fears so that they can realise their dreams.
When we understand something better we often have the capacity to make better choices which lead to better outcomes for us.
And of course, what is genuinely good for us, is genuinely good for the people who matter to us. Think about that.
So why would someone be so afraid of being visible?
I’m sure there are many possible answers, but generally speaking, the fear of being exposed and being vulnerable is what makes most writers most uncomfortable about being so visible.
And the fear of being exposed and being vulnerable exposes even deeper fears for us – the fear of being rejected, being humiliated or being hurt in ways that we might not feel we are equipped to handle.
You might have heard of glossophobia, which is a fear of public speaking. It’s a very common phobia and one that is believed to affect a large percentage of the population. Some people believe they would rather die than speak in public.
And it is the same with becoming an author. Almost all authors go through this.
So how do others overcome this fear of being visible? What do they do so that they can follow their hearts and realise their dreams?
Here are a couple of things that I’ve observed make a huge difference to other authors who have done their rite of passage from aspiring to published.
1. Change your focus.
Stop thinking about yourself and think about your reader. What do they want to hear from you? What do they need? How can you help them.
This also applies to public speaking. When you genuinely care about the message and what sort of impact that is going to have on your chosen audience, it takes the focus off you and helps you to move forward with confidence.
2. Get creative.
Creativity is a very important part of our existence and without it, we would not, indeed, could not have advanced as a race.
Make a list of every single one of your personal fears, go through each one and ask yourself how reasonable your fear is.
Then work out a strategy for (i) minimising the risk and (ii) dealing with each of your fears in the event that they might come to pass. Then you will find you feel differently about them.
When we approach something with an open mind and a willing spirit, we can achieve great things and history if full of amazing stories of people who have overcome adversity on their way to realising their dreams.
3. Go all out.
Finally, get a little attitude. Or a lot if that is what is required.
You are the author of your own life story, and you get to decide how you are going to respond to the complications in each chapter of your life.
How do you want your story to read? How do you want it to end?
Fear is a thief. Don’t let it dictate what you do and don’t get to experience in this lifetime. In the words of one of our more disruptive authors, Trish Springsteen, 60 seconds of insane courage can make a world of difference.
So go big. Don’t go home.
That’s it from me for today.
I do hope this has inspired you to go and get writing.
We have some free downloads that might be helpful to you on your author journey. They are on our website at www.disruptivepublishing.com.au
If you would like some company while you work through your fears and write your book, join us in the Authorpreneur’s Bootcamp where we teach authors how to write, publish and promote their own books.
You can find out all about it at www.disruptivepublishing.com.au/jointheclub
Or you can book in for a free information call and we can talk about your options for becoming an author. Go to www.calendly.com/disruptivepublishing/freeinfocall and pick a time that works best for you.
Or, if you have an idea for a compilation project, tell us about it. We might be able to work together. Email: deb@disruptivepublishing.com.au
Authorpreneur’s Bootcamp
Have a great week everyone.