How to Write a Book When You Have No Time, No Confidence, and No Plan
Writing is less about talent, more about stamina
I remember meeting a woman one summer who told me that her dream was to quit her office job in the Midwest and move to the Deep South to become a ghost tour guide.
How cool! I thought.
So I asked her, “Why don’t you?”
She just stared back at me and shrugged.
It hit me that so often what holds us back from our goals and dreams is invisible. Seemingly so ingrained and set in place, these obstacles have so much power over us they almost become unspeakable.
I thought of the people I’ve heard say they want to write a book but can never get around to it. Or who say they never seem to be able to finish a writing project but they don’t seem to know why.
I thought about what has kept me from writing in the past.
It all came into view when I approached it the way I approach big tasks — break it down.
I wish I had thought to ask the would-be New Orleans ghost tour guide what she thought the top three things keeping her from fulfilling her dream were.
But nearly every writer I know—myself included—faces the same recurring mental and emotional hurdles in the writing process – imposter syndrome, difficulty finding time and inconsistency.
These stumbling blocks are so common, it seems almost pointless trying to avoid confronting them. It’s much more productive to recognize them as part of the process, and to meet them with practical strategies and self-compassion.
1. Imposter Syndrome
“I don’t have what it takes to write this.”
That question still sometimes echoes in my head while working on my current project.
Even after becoming a published author, I often hear that persistent inner voice: Who do you think you are? Why did you ever believe you could pull this off?
Self-doubt doesn’t mean you’re not meant to write a book. It means you’re attempting something meaningful that you care about.
How to conquer it:
· Borrow confidence from your past. Think about something hard you’ve done in your life—not necessarily writing-related. Did you know you could do it before you attempted it? Probably not. But you did it anyway. Let that memory be your evidence.
· Keep a basket of wins. That is, a space — whether it’s a file you keep on your computer or just in your head — where you save praise, kind feedback, personal milestones—anything that reminds you you’re capable. On the hard days, look through it.
· Say the fear out loud. Write it down: I’ve never written anything this big. Then ask yourself: Is that true? Does it have to stay true? What would I say to a friend who said this to me?
· Build confidence through consistency. Confidence isn’t a lightning bolt—it’s a muscle. Show up. Write through the fear. Like an athlete training, you get stronger by doing.
· Break it down. You’re not writing a book today. You’re writing a paragraph. A line. A moment of truth.
If you’re writing a memoir, you’re writing it because you’ve lived. Because you’ve made meaning of what you’ve experienced. And your perspective is valuable.
2. “I Don’t Have Time to Write”
For a while, I believed this too. Then I proved myself wrong.
Several years ago, I dove into real estate investing. I paid thousands for a course and committed to learning the ropes—all while working full-time. I started getting up an hour earlier to make time for it, and within a year, I had bought and managed a rental property.
Eventually, I realized real estate wasn’t my passion—writing was. And if I could carve out time for something that wasn’t even my true calling, I could certainly make space for what mattered most.
How to conquer it:
· Check your priorities. When you say you “don’t have time,” what you often mean is “it’s not a priority right now.” That’s not a judgment, just it’s a powerful realization.
· Treat writing like a commitment you’ve already paid for. If you invested thousands of dollars on a water heater and it broke down, you’d find the time to deal with it. Treat your writing like that kind of non-negotiable.
· Steal time from the edges. Early mornings, lunch breaks, waiting rooms, subway rides – time is more elastic than it looks when you start looking for the cracks.
If it matters to you—and I believe it does—you can make room for it.
3. Inconsistency
“I never manage to stick to writing.”
This one hits home for so many. You start strong, then life gets in the way. Before long, it’s been weeks—or months—since you touched your manuscript.
How to conquer it:
· Set a small, regular goal. Twenty minutes, or a single paragraph, or one messy journal entry — start small enough that it feels doable even on your worst day.
· Find your rhythm. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you get a burst of energy in the middle of the day? Choose your most lucid time and protect it.
· Build a structure. You don’t need superhuman willpower—you need a system or schedule that can become like trusted routine that holds you when motivation fades.
· Find accountability. A writing partner, a group, or even just a calendar you check off daily can keep you on track.
· Stick to it. Momentum is your friend. Sporadic writing feels harder. Regular writing becomes a groove.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s continuity. Writing a memoir — or a book of any kind — is not about waiting for the muse. It’s about creating a space where she knows where to find you.
Final Thoughts
You’re not the only one facing self-doubt, time scarcity, or inconsistency. These obstacles are part of the process. The writers who finish aren’t the ones who never struggled—they’re the ones who found ways to keep going.
So if you’ve been dreaming of writing your story, start now. Start small. And keep going.
Because your story matters.
And because the very act of writing it—through fear, fatigue, and false starts—can become the most transformative part of the journey.
Which of these obstacles resonates most for you right now?
Feeling called to write your story but unsure where to begin—or how to keep going?
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need someone to show you the way.
Book a free clarity call with me, and together we’ll explore where you are, what’s holding you back, and how you can begin moving forward, honestly, and on your own terms.
Click here to book.