The Biggest Challenges I’m Facing as a New Writer

And how I plan to overcome them

Photo by Danka & Peter on Unsplash

It has come to my attention that there is no single path to becoming a successful writer.

Every author has a unique story, and each must find the way that leads to their goals.

In addition, there are some common challenges that new writers, like myself, encounter — and overcoming these obstacles is the key to success.

As a new writer who wishes to earn a living through writing, I will discuss two of the most common challenges I am facing right now.

The first challenge is to develop the habit of writing

A major challenge for novice writers is developing a writing habit.

When you are first starting out, it can be tough to find time for your writing, and it is easy to put off your writing until “later.”

The most effective way for me to overcome this challenge is to make writing a priority in my life.

Given that I will be pursuing this endeavor full-time, I will need to create a working environment similar to what I would expect from a traditional office setting.

I have a three-pronged strategy:

Firstly, I will set my alarm in the morning and commit to writing throughout the day.

I plan to devote eight hours a day, five days a week to my process, even though I work from home.

This worked for me when I was employed in a traditional office environment.

Why should it be any different now?

Secondly, I keep a record of my work hours.

It is important for me to document the time I spend doing research, writing, or editing. By doing so, I will be able to determine how much I earn per hour and how much I can accomplish in a day.

As the days, weeks, and months pass, I will gain a better understanding of my progress as well as strategize where my time and effort should be allocated.

And finally, my working hours are divided into 1-hour blocks interspersed with microbreaks.

The breaks serve as a great way to reset and refresh my mind.

Previously, I have handled physical tasks in other jobs, such as serving tables, valet parking, and installing home flooring.

While these jobs require a certain amount of mental concentration, they do not compare to the level of focus required for writing. As a result, I must take several breaks throughout the day in order to regain my stride.

Maintaining motivation is the second challenge

Motivating yourself can be difficult, particularly when one is a beginner in a new field.

I have found that setting small, attainable goals is an effective method for maintaining my motivation.

As an example, I have a pretty accurate estimate of the length of time it takes me to write a 500–750 word article.

Currently, the pace is around one hour, plus or minus fifteen minutes.

For the present, it is what it is.

Nevertheless, I recognize that there is much room for improvement as practice leads to experience.

As a result, I am able to set daily writing goals that are achievable, which not only aids in my relaxation but also gives me the confidence to keep going and not give up.

Providing advice like “staying focused will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed” seems a little simplistic, in my opinion.

Consider it in this way: If you were going to the gym for the first time, how much weight would you expect to lift?

In a short time, you’d figured it out.

Moreover, if you push too hard and too fast, you may not only become discouraged but may also sustain injury.

However, if you begin with the minimum amount of resistance, you’re already on your way to building muscle!

The same applies to writing.

While I would like to be able to write 1000 words an hour, I am not yet at that level.

This is fine with me.

The more consistent I am in my writing, the more likely I am to encounter resistance, and my growth as a writer will naturally follow.

Thanks for reading!

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