Magazine Giveaway
This Friday I’m hosting my first blog giveaway.
I am passionate about writing and sharing any knowledge or tips I have on being successful in the industry. Part of my weekly regimen is to study writing, by reading about writing. There are many great magazines to help you hone your craft, but as you know, they can be expensive. So for Frugal Friday I have one copy of the Writers’ Journal to give away. It is the July/August issue and it’s packed with expert advice. (The picture below is of an old edition, so it will be a big surprise when it arrives!)
Simply leave a comment on this post explaining "what holds you back from being the writer you want to be." I’ll pick a name on Monday and send it off to you. To my international friends, sorry but this one is for US addresses only!
For me, fear has been holding me back from being everything God wants me to be. Sometimes it’s hard to put the pen to paper when you’re unsure of every word. Though I get downhearted, I am not destroyed and if I just let Him write His story through me, there won’t ever be enough paper.
Audra Krell 
I’m not sure there is one specific thing that holds me back from being a writer. I used to want to and would still like to, but I am just not sure where to start. Thank you for the giveaway!
lack of motivation and a lack of confidence in myself.
Procrastination is my culprit.
“I’ll start writing right after I finish watching this show.”
“I’m kind of tired so I’ll just do it tomorrow when I’m more alert.”
I could go on and on with the excuses.
I’m getting better at applying my butt to the chair and just doing it. Using my lunch hour is working well too. But in the end, my own procrastination has gotten the better of me more times than not.
I am not sure what my answer is. It used to be a very long list of things, including “I have nothing to say that would interest or help others”, I don’t feel that way anymore. In fact I now feel called. However. I have no idea where to start, or what subject I should say, or what venue. Uncertainty is a tough thing to overcome.
It’s great to see that I’m not alone, as each one of you voiced my reasons for not answering the call from God in the way He would like. The good news is that you are writers, you have a blog.
Begin with “what you know,” a truth that has helped or changed you. This week I commited to a word count per day and it has been my best week of writing yet. Some people start with just five minutes a day, others a certain amount of words. Do what works for you, the key is to do it.
A bad english teacher in high school played into my lack of confidence. That’s been almost twenty years and although I write/add every few months to a story I’ve worked on for YEARS…I still can’t seem to finish the book. I LOVED your idea of the word count per day.
laziness and fear. a great book about over coming fear is The Courage to Write by Ralph Keys (I think that’s his name)
Monica- Thank you for the book recommendation, I haven’t heard of that one.
Oh, please. Ask a hard question next time, huh? What holds me back from a writing career? That nagging thing called a mortgage that requires me to work the full-time job that pays the mortgage and provides the good health insurance. Or it could be the two kids who keep me busy after work.
Now, in all seriousness, I realize that if writing were the most important thing to me, I’d make arrangements to write even with the job and the husband and the kids. But for now, the husband and the kids are most important.
That’s my long and short answer. 🙂
You said it beautifully….if we (I) will just allow Him to flow through me, it won’t be so difficult.
Time is an issue for me. I need to work on organizing time better. And of course….letting go of excuses.
But mostly, I think I feel the same as you do. I feel vulnerable, I suppose. But it’s all about Him, isn’t it? If I remember that, there’s no struggle.
Relaxing and not feeling like I am being judged. Very nice post!
Lacking enough skill sometimes holds me back. But for the most part I write anyway and just ask God to translate to the reader 🙂 .
blessings, Penny Raine
http://www.pennyraine.com/blog