The first words are always the hardest.

It doesn’t matter whether you are writing a blog, a letter, a birthday card or a book, making a start is always the biggest challenge. I have just sat for a good ten minutes deciding how to start this blog. 

Why are they so hard though? 

Well, I suppose, as with anything, taking that first step is when we truly commit to something. Whether it is walking into the gym for the first time, breaking the soil for that new build or picking up a pen and writing the first tentative words on a page. By taking that step, we are proving to ourselves and the world that we are serious about achieving something. Perhaps something we haven’t done for a long time, or even, ever before.

That can be scary.

What’s really stopping you?

There are many reasons you may be scared to start writing, let’s take a look at some of the most common.

• Fear
• Perfectionism
• Lack of inspiration
• Lack of direction
• Preoccupied or distracted
• Overstimulation

These are by far the most common reasons people don’t start writing. Instead of just accepting that this is why you haven’t started that writing project that you have been chewing over for months, even years, let’s break down how you can move through this point, and actually start writing. 

Fear

If you know that it is fear that is keeping you from starting your writing, there are a few questions you can ask yourself. What am I really scared of? Is this just my nervous system protecting me from potential hurt? Am I worried that others will criticise my writing? 

You will very rarely be in physical danger from writing. It would be untrue to say that there is never any danger, as Im sure you are aware, there are a handful of writers who have written very political books which have caused them to fear for their lives. That is an exceptional situation, and I doubt that your book or blog will be that inflammatory. If you are worried others will criticise your writing, you don’t have to share it with them. Writing can be an intensely private activity. You need never share your writing with anyone. I feel sure that you will eventually feel confident enough to do so though.

Perfectionism 

This is very similar to fear. This is just fear of not being the best writer that has ever lived. Well, I hate to break it to you, but you may not be. What I odd know though is that there has never been a writer that was universally loved. Everyone has a favourite, and you will be someone’s favourite author one day, if that’s what you want to achieve.  Stop listening to that doubting voice and just write, you might surprise yourself

Lack of Inspiration/Direction

These are essentially the same issue, and incredibly common issues. You sit down to start and you don’t know what you are supposed to be writing. Sound familiar? If you are starting work on something as big as a book, you have to do quite a lot of preparation before you begin the work of actually writing. Have you planned, at least roughly, what you want to include – anecdotes, memories, research etc – and where you are going to start? If not you aren’t going to get very far, especially with a nonfiction book. Take time to do the ground work and you will soon be building.

Preoccupied or distracted

This can be a challenge for writers as we are often at home. We may have people calling around unexpectedly, the housework is constantly calling and it is so easy to just watch then next episode on Netflix instead of sitting down to start writing. This is usually just a form of procrastination, which in turn is usually fear based. Put your phone in another room, go to a cafe without wifi or use one of the may apps that restrict access to distractions such as social media. You can do this.

Overstimulation

Overstimulation can also lead to that stuck feeling when we are starting a new project. If we have too much input our brain effectively shuts down to protect itself. This is particularly an issue for neurodivergent writers, but it affects everyone sometimes. The first thing to do is to work out the cause. If it is external overstimulation (lighting, noise, smell etc) that can often be eased by changing location or adjusting the environment. Noise cancelling headphones can be really helpful, but most people have to discover what works for them. You may need particular lighting or to be in a certain room/seat/position to write well. 

Support

Having others around you who are all experiencing the same emotions and challenges can be incredibly useful as you take your first tentative steps into the writing world. Whether you are looking for support writing your first nonfiction book, or just a community of fellow writers to share the highs and lows with, we have a solution for you. In March we will start BOOK FORGE 26, our year long nonfiction book writing programme. Over the space of 12 months we share everything you need to write your book and bring in experts to share their experiences of writing, publishing and so much more. We would love to share 2026 with you.

If you aren’t ready for that level of commitment yet, we also have our writing community THE WRITER’S FORGE. 30+hrs of online writing accountability every month. We will keep you on target and support you on your writing adventures.

For more nonfiction writing and wellbeing tips, check out our other blogs or sign up to our bi-monthly newsletter to get writing inspiration straight to your inbox.