why it’s important to ask for help
When my husband and I moved into our house, there was no fence to keep the deer out.
I brought roses and hostas and all sorts of wonderful plants with me from my old garden.
Unknowingly, I'd opened a 24/7 Caesar’s Palace Bacchanal Buffet.
I tried to keep the deer out of the garden through a variety of DIY methods.
I mixed garlic, hot pepper, and rotten eggs spray. Didn’t work.
I purchased Predator Pee mountain lion urine spray. Didn’t work.
I ordered the bitter chemical ingredient for Bitter Apple (anti-chew spray for dogs). Didn’t work.
I installed a motion-activated sprinkler. Didn't work.
I kept everything precious in containers on the deck. Didn’t work.
(Woke up one morning to a massive 4-prong buck munching my potted roses.)
Finally, I’d had enough. The four years I'd spent trying to outsmart the deer could have been spent in so many other more enjoyable and productive ways. So I called the professional fence builders. They came out, gave me a bid, and scheduled the build.
“That’s going to be expensive,” a friend told me. “Can’t you just do it yourselves?”
“We talked about that, but you know what’s even more expensive?”
“What?” She asked.
“Divorce.”
I knew if my husband and I tried to build the fence we were going to need for this yard, our marriage wouldn't last. The DIY scope of that project was too large, the physical labor too demanding, our time too limited, and our knowledge too rudimentary.
Writers come to me as a book coach with a variety of writing issues ranging from getting started, keeping going, finishing, and publishing. Sometimes they have notes on a napkin, sometimes they’ve finished a full draft.
In the majority of cases, I wish they’d come to me sooner–before their small issues had grown into the Grand Canyon sized issues.
Here’s why it’s important to ask for help with your book as early as possible:
1. EARLY DIAGNOSIS = BETTER SOLUTIONS
The earlier you address an issue, the better options you’ll have for solving it. Often these solutions are easier and less invasive.
I had a client who brought me a finished draft of her novel. It had no conflict or tension. It was 350 pages of a hero wanting something and going out and getting it with no obstacles or challenges.
The solution? A restructure and rewrite from the foundation up. If I’d seen the first few pages when she first wrote them, I could have told her what the problem was much earlier.
2. IGNORED PROBLEMS = BIGGER PROBLEMS
When you know something’s wrong and you ignore it, chances are that problem is only going to get bigger. Like when the check engine light comes on in your car. The light is a warning that something is wrong and maybe you should pay attention before you damage your vehicle. Ignoring the light can result in costly repairs.
Ask yourself:
What’s the worst that will happen if I ignore the problem?
Am I willing to invest time, money, and energy into fixing an even bigger problem?
3. GETTING HELP FEELS BETTER
Getting help eliminates all the not-so-great feelings that come with ignoring, delaying, and hiding from the problem. You’ll save yourself a mountain of frustration and stress.
4. IT'S NOT AS HARD AS IT FEELS
There are lots of reasons we don’t ask for help. We can be resistant to other people’s opinions, we might not know where to ask for help, or we may not want to appear less knowledgeable. The writing industry nurtures those feelings, which can make it difficult to say, “I need help.” But there's no shame in asking for help.
If getting help gets you to your goals faster, with less invasive solutions, and makes you feel better at the same time? Then it’s worth it.
Don’t wait. If you need help, reach out.
If you don’t know where to reach out to, drop me a note and tell me the issue you're having. I’ll help you find the writing help you need.
Hello!
My name is Jocelyn.
Story warrior, book lover, day dreamer, gardener, and creative. I help serious writers roll up their sleeves, get their novel ready for publishing, and reach readers. When I’m not elbow-deep in the story trenches, I’m outside world-building in my garden and battling weeds with my three criminal mastermind cats.
GET IT NOW
Don’t write another chapter until you grab the 10 Step Chapter Checklist.
Transform your chapters from blah to badass.