The Real Obstacle to Writing a Book
(It’s Not Writer’s Block)
Dear Friends,
The biggest obstacle we face as writers isn’t writer’s block. It isn’t even imposter syndrome. It’s this: relegating our creative lives to the bottom of the to-do list.
This summer, I taught in Greece, Montana, and the Hudson Valley. I also led online writing circles and one-on-one coaching sessions. In each place, my role was the same: to hold space for writers. To listen, to guide, to offer tools. And though the settings changed — from yoga mats on a terrace to Zoom squares across time zones — the same truth kept surfacing.
One writer told me she only wrote once her children were asleep, but by then she was too exhausted to form a sentence. Another admitted that every time she sat down to write, she first answered her emails — and her writing time vanished before it even began.
No matter the space, the pattern was the same: their stories mattered deeply, but writing was always what came after everything else — after the meetings and the caregiving, after the chores and the quieting of the day, a little space finally opened.
It’s not because these writers didn’t care. Quite the opposite. They are empaths, sensitive souls, attuned to the world’s needs. That sensitivity is their gift — and yet it’s the very thing that pushed their own writing to the margins.
Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry writes:
“You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect.”
These words remind me why so many of us are so tired. It isn’t just the weight of meetings, caregiving, and daily tasks — it’s the constant belief that our worth is measured only by what we produce for others. We clear the inbox, fold the laundry, take care of everyone else before turning to ourselves, and by then, the day is already gone.
But what if we flipped the script?
What if we began the year by putting our creative lives first? By “hiring ourselves” — giving our writing the same commitment, time, and respect we’d give any other important role?
Because the truth is: your creative work is important work. It heals, it connects, it shapes how you move through the world. And if you don’t claim that authority, no one else will do it for you.
The difference between a writer who publishes and one who doesn’t is less about brilliance on the page, and more about the devotion and authority they allow themselves.
Because here’s the truth: a book — or any creative project — is one of the most significant investments of time, energy, and resources you will ever make. It deserves a vision, a plan, a budget, and a leader. It deserves you in the CEO seat.
✨ Imagine what might happen if your story moved from the margins of your life to its center.
To celebrate the start of the year — and to help you put your creativity first — I’m leading a live, interactive workshop next week: Treat Your Book Like a Startup.
It will be live and interactive, with space for your questions. If you can’t join us in real time, you’ll receive the full recording. And I’ll share a few highlights here on Substack too, so we can all begin this fall with our creativity at the center.
One way is to treat our creative work like the serious investment it is — with a vision, a plan, and the authority to lead it. That’s the heart of a one-hour workshop I created: Your Book Is a Startup: Step Into the CEO Seat (Without Selling Your Soul). It comes with a replay and worksheets so you can step into this shift right away. [link here]