Taking the (Scary) Next Step

            This is going to be a shorter post, but my goal is to encourage you if you are struggling to take the big steps in your writing career. Whether that step is writing or marketing, I want to tell you that you got this! In the past year, I have had to do many scary things in my writing. Though they stressed me out and made me rethink whether I should really be doing this, they are so rewarding. Trust me!

            As of January 1, 2024, I had never been on social media. I had never built a website. I had written a full-length book, but not one I was confident enough in to send to an agent.

            In other words, I’ve had to really step out of my comfort zone.

            That’s the case with all careers, I suppose. At one point or another, we need to step out of our comfort zone to get something accomplished or to move our career forward. When we’ve established a flow of life, it’s easy to get comfortable in it. But if we truly want to succeed, taking those scary steps is necessary.

            The question is how we do accomplish it.

            I don’t have steps for this. Sometimes, just willpower, discipline, and perseverance are what we need. My journey included a lot of prayer and shutting my eyes while pressing buttons. Few people know this (so you’re special), but I get sick-to-my-stomach anxiety. After publishing my website, I disappeared in a coffee shop for a few hours to calm my anxiety and excitement.  Though I have that anxiety, I knew that accomplishing these steps would help me further my career more than anything. If I didn’t build a website or start a social media account, how could I market my writing?

            What I’m trying to say is that the process isn’t easy. It may be easier for some people than it is for others, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be struggles. It might be easy to do the writing, but sharing it with other people? Sending it to an agent or publishing it? That’s a lot. It makes it feel real, and though it’s exciting, it’s still nerve-wracking.

            Whichever stage you’re in, you can do it. Don’t give up. Don’t let what other people may say hinder you from taking those scary steps. If you are confident that what you have is ready to be shared with the world, or you’re confident that you can effectively market on social media, don’t hesitate. Every beginning writer starts from somewhere, and unless you already have a large platform, that place is usually the bottom.

            Don’t let anxiety hold you back. Sometimes you may need to say a little prayer and shut your eyes before pressing the “submit” button. Maybe after you send a manuscript or post on your social media, you need to shut off all devices and bury yourself in a book. As long as you take those steps, you can find peace knowing that you did it, despite your doubts and fears. If it isn’t rewarding now, it will be one day. You can even feel rewarded that you found the confidence to do it!

            I know putting yourself out there, whether on social media or in the publishing world, is scary. But if we don’t do the scary things, we won’t get anywhere. How can we succeed if we don’t take those steps?

            Trust me, taking the (scary) next steps is rewarding. Sometimes the process is slow (as I’m finding), but if we continue to take those steps, we can find more confidence in ourselves and our writing. I have grown comfortable with social media and blogging. Now that I’ve sent my manuscript to one agent, sending it to other agents shouldn’t be so bad. The fact that I’ve accomplished these things despite my doubts and bad anxiety shows me I can do it. And you can do it too! I’m cheering for you! 😊