When To Give Up Your Dream of Being a Published Author

I’m going to share a personal story that applies to something I see a lot in my business.

My best friend from high school never went to college. 

And not because she couldn’t get in. She applied and was accepted to the university I went to. There was only one hurdle: she needed an updated transcript from the guidance office.

She never did it. 

Advocating for ourselves is scary as fuck. 

Doing something different than everyone else around us is hard, because as human beings we are biologically wired to prioritize belonging. 

I don’t know why my friend never went to the guidance office. I don’t know if she felt insecure about moving to a new place, or worried about being able to get the money for tuition and books. Perhaps she was experiencing an “upper limit problem” (as defined in The Big Leap) where we feel afraid to leave people behind. To this day, I don’t know if my former bestie regrets her decision, or is happy with how her life turned out. 

What I do know is that sometimes, it can be the right decision to not leap. 

To stop progressing forward on our dreams or what other people think we should do (even if that’s your best friend). Sometimes, we SHOULD quit. 

Over the last decade, a handful of the clients I’ve worked with made the right decision to give up on their dreams of becoming a published author. A couple faced unexpected medical issues or family emergencies. Others didn’t see any momentum while building their author platform. And many, when educated on the process, simply decided that writing, promoting, and selling a book wasn’t for them. And that’s OK. 

But what’s not OK is giving up on your dream because you don’t see instant results. 

Or because other people doubt you and question what you’re doing. 

Or because you’re turning excuses into reasons to quit (I see this a lot).

Because the truth is, no one will care more about your dream than you do. 

And when we think we’re doing “everything” there’s usually something we haven’t thought about or been open to. Perhaps that’s hiring household help to free up a few hours every week, or outsourcing some of your content creation. Maybe it’s making your goals just a little less ambitious so that you can score some easy wins. Or allowing yourself to have the time and support you need to create your dreams in a sustainable way. 

So. If you need clarity on whether you have a shot at a traditional book deal --

Or want a book team at the ready to cheerlead you on days you doubt --

And to feel like you’re not alone in fantasizing about your spot on the bestseller list - 

Then you should sign up to chat with my team of publishing insiders who can support you in making the right decision. 

Don’t let your dreams die because you were afraid to ask for help.