3 Myths Holding You Back From Becoming an Author

Do you have a deep desire to be known as an expert in your industry? Then I have three words for you that will change your life: publish a book.

When you channel your knowledge, expertise, and experience into a book, you create a tangible, evergreen asset that confirms you are an authority. (You wrote the book on it!)

Your book can create a lasting legacy and open up many opportunities for visibility, including:

• podcast interviews
• media placements
• speaking engagements
• corporate sponsorships and more

My clients have become bestselling authors, been booked on amazing podcasts, and invited to paid speaking engagements. These opportunities can be available to you, too. So what is stopping you? If you’ve ever read a book by a contemporary and thought, “I could write something too, and it might even be better,” let this be the sign you’ve been waiting for to do it.

I believe it’s important to call out these fears and dispel them. (Remember: fear is just false evidence appearing real!)

There will always be excuses waiting to prevent you from writing the book that’s tapping on your heart. I’ve seen people give up on their dreams of becoming an author simply because that little voice in their head stops them before they even begin. Let’s bust through the myths that may be getting in your way.

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Myth #1

“I don’t have time to write a book.”

You may not be able to disappear into a cabin in the woods for three months, but you do have time to write a book. Whether you intentionally block off thirty minutes a day or head to your favorite coffee shop every weekend, consistency is key. And if you feel as though the writing portion is too tough to do alone, our speak-the-book system for busy professionals enables us to pull your expertise out of your head and turn into a manuscript in just one hour a week without you having to go off and write at all.

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Myth #2

“I don’t know if I have anything original to say.”

You may wonder if you have anything new to add to the conversation in your industry, but I guarantee that you do. A book does not have to be a straightforward how-to. In fact, that would read more like an employee handbook. Your personal experiences—your upbringing, education, business acumen, clients and customers, failures and wins—all contribute to your unique expertise. These stories and lessons are what will make your book compelling and enjoyable to read.

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Myth #3

“I’m not sure people will want to read what I have to say.”

When a person is interested in learning about a particular topic, they rarely read only one book on it. Instead, they will read several books to get different perspectives. That means, there is definitely room for your book, too. Of course, to get your ideal reader interested in picking up your book, you do have to market it. That’s where most authors fall short. They believe that if they have a successful launch, readers will simply materialize. The “if you build it, they will come” philosophy does not apply here.

There is a lot of predatory behavior in the publishing industry and it’s unfortunate that most publishers make book marketing an upsell, if they offer it at all. That is a real disservice to the author. We make marketing a priority because your book is evergreen, which means you can and should continue to promote it for years to come, as long as it aligns with your mission and/or business. You can keep the excitement around your book going long after launch by posting about it weekly on social media, adding a link to it in your email signature, sharing about it on podcasts, and sending it out to potential clients.

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If you are ready to move past these myths and finally write the book that has been tapping on your heart, consider this your invitation.

This article was originally written for KNOW Phoenix, part of The KNOW Women community that celebrates and connects high-achieving women. I’m honored to be part of The KNOW Women and to help more women step into their role as recognized experts and published authors.