What's Stopping Me From Finishing This Novel?

I’m on the very last bit of work before getting my novel, Persimmon’s Dream House, in the hands of my beta readers. The awesome news is that I have nearly two dozen folks who are eagerly awaiting their chance to read it and give feedback!

The not-so-great news? Well, lest you think this part is easy for me, as the published author of six books, I wanted to share the details of how this final stretch has become a bit of a slog.

Here’s a list of the things that are getting in the way of finishing it up:

• Fear that it won’t be any good and I’ll disappoint everyone, because fiction is different and it’s not my wheelhouse

• Financial issues and deadlines that my brain tells me needs to be handled first

• A habit of putting service to others ahead of my own projects and goals

• Procrastinating by doing all the small, easy things on my to-do list first

• Having to tidy my space before jumping in to work on the book

• Feeling a lot of pressure to “do it all” myself, particularly in terms of running my business and publishing my books

• Bouncing back and forth between loving this story and doubting whether it has enough action or excitement for readers

Since I am an accomplished writing coach, I do have tools I’m using to help me overcome these excuses.

What is keeping me on task in terms of getting the manuscript ready to share?

• Scheduling times to work on the book when I’m with other writers who are also doing their thing

• Building in accountability by telling all of the beta readers that I’ll have it to them by June 15th

• Reminding myself that my creative work is essential to my well-being, and thus just as important as others’ errands or my home’s tidiness

• Taking time to daydream, playfully, about the characters and little bits I can add to make the story more fun

• Letting the manuscript be imperfect, as the whole point of sending it to beta readers is to get their suggestions on improving it

• Focusing on gratitude for all the people who offered to read it because they were excited by the story’s premise

• Remembering that this is a cozy contemporary fantasy, not an epic tale of wild adventures

I’m giving myself the grace to do this in a way that works for me. Sharing the novel is the most important thing right now, so I’m taking the steps that are key to that part of the process. I’ve let go of beating myself up for it not looking a certain way.

“Done is better than perfect,” as they say, and it’s especially true when it’s a draft that I’m sharing, not the final product.

I’m sure I’ll need to remind myself of that when it comes to publishing this thing. But that’s not what I’m doing now. Not yet. I’m just sharing it with these generous folks who have offered their help. They are going to support me in making it better.

Perhaps even perfect.

But maybe not.

And that’s okay.

I’ve had this hesitation around sharing my fiction, in particular, for some time. I’ve always loved stories, and part of me feels like in order to share one of my own fictional creations with the world, it does need to be perfect. Or it at least needs to add to the lexicon of tales in some substantial way.

I don’t want to let the readers down, but perhaps even more importantly, I don’t want to let the story itself down.

When I get into a place of doubt, I remember that I actually have shared my fiction before. I already sent the first book in my unpublished Patterns series around to beta readers, several years ago now, and many of them loved it. I’ve taken in their feedback and improved it even more since then. A few folks have recently been asking to read the second book.

I’ve also been reading excerpts from this current, stand-alone novel at my local arts center, and have had positive feedback about it. When I posted looking for beta readers, I got nearly two dozen enthusiastic replies in just two days!

I’m remembering that I have a community of supportive folks who are eager to help me in this process. I’m being gentle with myself, and also doing the work despite my nervousness.

I wrote this particular novel, in part, as a trial run for releasing my contemporary fantasy series. So in that sense, it’s an experiment. Remembering this also helps.

Here’s the premise of the book:

When Persimmon “Perri” Crowley loses her job and her Brooklyn apartment on the same day, she realizes it’s time to face the inherited mystery she’s been avoiding: a crumbling, seaside farmhouse in Maine. But stepping onto the neglected property reveals far more than she anticipated.

Determined to fix up her new home and carve out a fresh start, Perri encounters peculiar disturbances. Guided by her cat companion, strange dreams, and her witchy intuition, she discovers this is no ordinary haunting. The entity causing the problems is bound to her in ways she can’t ignore. As she navigates nightmares, elusive neighbors, and her own magickal missteps, Perri learns that building a new life will require every ounce of creativity and courage she has.

Filled with whimsy, warmth, and witchcraft, Persimmon’s Dream House weaves a story of love, friendship, enchantment, and finding home in the most unexpected places. Will Perri have what it takes to claim the life waiting for her, or will she flee back to the city and refuse her destiny?

If all goes according to plan, I’ll be releasing Persimmon’s Dream House this year, in the late fall - whether or not I’m still feeling scared to hit that “publish” button.

If you’re reading this article in email and enjoyed it, please click the heart symbol at the top or bottom so more folks can find it. Thanks!