Which factor is impacting your writing success most?

Which statement sounds most like you?

I have a ton of great ideas, which makes it hard to commit to any one of them.
I have good ideas, and I do try to act on them, but then I don’t always follow through. I eventually get stuck on the details.
Whenever I get an idea, it seems that either someone else has done it better than me already, or that maybe there is something better I should be doing.

How confident are you about your project?

I think my ideas are great, but I worry about what others will think of me when they see my final project, especially if I fail.
I have something great in my mind but I fear I don’t have the education/training/experience to truly succeed.
I dream of achieving something, but I never really follow through with it because I know the chances of success are so slim.

How would you describe your work style?

Very creative. I’m an ideas person, and I’m good at the big picture. People say I’m great at brainstorming. I’m a good group leader.
Direct and pretty straightforward. I want to get stuff done right.
Passionate and intellectual. I do a deep dive into the process and the details. I love getting lost in my work. The more complicated the better.

How do you feel about working in a group?

Sometimes love it, sometimes hate it. I love to share my work and brainstorm but I also don’t like others to judge my work or potentially steal my ideas. I can’t help but notice that some people are better than me and some are worse.
I might like to work in a group more but only if it’s low pressure commitment wise, and if I learn something from it. Otherwise I would rather work alone.
I love it! I crave the support, inspiration, and motivation, and I don’t want to have to do everything alone. This forces me to do something.

What is your creative/workflow process?

I get an idea and then brainstorm about it until I feel ready to start, to make a basic plan, and then I’ll let it grow organically.
I need to create a detailed plan before I start.
I jump in before I’m totally ready but trust that things eventually will come together.

When do you work on your passion project?

Full-time, or as close to that as possible. At the very least I can say that it occupies a lot of my time and energy.
I can’t do it full time but I try to do a little bit every day, or on weekends. I sometimes feel like I have to play catch up a lot.
When inspiration strikes. If I’m not inspired, I don’t work as well. I get a lot done in a short time.

What is your attitude towards your project?

It’s my passion or at least my current obsession. It’s a crucial part of me. I’m either keeping it secret or telling everyone who will listen.
I’m treating it like a job. Right now, I’m growing my skills.
It’s something that I would love to devote more time to. If it works out I will.

Where in the writing process do you usually get stuck?

I have a hard time convincing myself to start or figuring out how to start. Once I am further in, momentum takes hold.
I’m fine until I hit the middle of the process, where technical things start to matter. and then everything falls apart.
Once the first flush of excitement is done, I have a hard time really pushing through to completion.

What is the hardest part about being a writer?

When you're blocked, how does it make you feel?

Alone. No one understands what I’m going through, and if I tell them they’ll know I’m doing something wrong.
It’s part of the process. It’s not fun, but I know I’ll get through it eventually.
Helpless and frustrated. How will I ever succeed if this always happens to me?

What is your hope for your book or writing project?

I just want to get this out there, so I can have that sense of achievement and/or to show everyone who doubted me that I could do it.
I want to turn my passion, knowledge, and talent into a career.
I want to make money and/or become well known.

Have you published or completed a book or other creative project before? What was your experience?

I have succeeded at a creative, artistic, or entrepreneurial project and I either want to bring that success to the next one, or have a niggling feeling that I will never achieve that level of success again.
I completed or almost completed a creative project but it did not go as well as it could have for several reasons. Now I am a little burned out.
I’ve tried, but failed, or I never got to the point of actually completing a full launch.

How do you feel about hiring outside help?

Anyone I would hire may mess up the integrity of what I’m doing. How do I know they’re qualified? How do I know they won’t steal some part of my concept or part of the spotlight?
I can do it all myself, and/or am willing to do it myself, for free. Why waste the money?
Hiring someone makes me feel that someone has my back. They’ll help me to improve my work, and I don’t have to do it alone.

What is your marketing plan for your project?

If I do a good job, the customers or clients or buyers will come. I don’t need to do too much.
I’ve got a strategy for that. I’m pretty good with computers, so I hope to get my platform up and running myself: website, social media, the works.
I’ve got some idea of what I need. I plan on having input but would rather someone else do a lot of it for me.

Do you share thoughts, fears, and ideas with other writers or people from the publishing industry?

No way! They might steal my ideas, and I don’t like to be judged!
Sometimes. But I worry that they think I want something from them, or that they’ll think I’m out of my depth.
All the time! It’s encouraging and inspiring!