Caution: Road Work Ahead

If my life were a street you could pretty much guarantee there would always be a sign that read: Caution Road Work Ahead. I think we're pretty much all works in progress. That's life, right? We don't have all the answers and even though some times I wish I did, things wouldn't be quite as exciting would they?

Today I want to talk about writing roadblocks. I think most of us have them. Whether or not its procrastination, fear of failure or just plain ole self doubt I think most of us all deal with these little road blocks on our writing road. For me, it started with time. I've loved writing since I saw a child scribbling in my trapper keeper but as I grew up I worked a full time job and just never had the time to write. In some ways, that may have been just an excuse, could have been my fear of failure sneaking in, maybe a little bit of self doubt thrown in but at the time I blamed it on time.

Finally I had the time, and built up the courage to take it and started writing. Honestly, things went pretty quickly for me from starting my first book to my first publication but that doesn't mean I don't face road blocks with each and every book I write. One of mine is still time because even though I don't work outside the home, my kids and household keep me pretty damn busy. But I want it enough that I bulldoze that roadblock right out of my way.

I do have a confession to make though. With each book, each submission, each contract, and especially every book that is released I have a HUGE fear of failure. It's a hurdle I face every time. I get stressed before submission. Check my email fifty times a day after submission expecting that big R we all hate to see. When I get my edits, I'm always freaking out that my editor wonder why in the hell they ever contracted my book. When a new book comes out I sweat bullets, scared to death I'll let my readers down. For me, it doesn't get easier but guess what? I keep going. What makes me? Hell, I don't know. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment. All I know is I HAVE to keep going. I might fear failure but isn't it automatically a fail if you don't try?

What kinds of roadblocks do you face in your writing? If your not a writer, what about road blocks in your every day life? Your job? What makes you keep plugging along?