I'm working on a novel

And I’m fighting resistance through it all.

On Thursdays, I share thoughts and stories from everyday life as a female founder, mom and writer. Think: personal challenges, goals, writing, creative living and so much more.

---

Last year I was introduced to The War of Art by Steven Pressfield — all about breaking through creative blocks, helping you answer “why am I not doing that thing I want to be doing?”

To put it simply — it’s a powerful book. An eye-opening book. I rank it up there with Big Magic (my all-time favorite).

In the book, Pressfield introduces us to “resistance” — a great force that’s working against our creativity. He says “resistance is the most toxic force on the planet.” Essentially, the reason you’re not doing what you want to be doing is because of resistance. Don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler. He dives much deeper into the force of resistance, how it’s holding us back and how to break through it.

Now that I’m aware of resistance at play, I think about it all the time.

All those dreams piled up inside, all those creative endeavors I have in mind — some that I’ve started, others that I haven’t — are too often meeting resistance. And my biggest dream — my novel? Yup, it’s staring resistance in the face.

Whoaaa boy, when I read The War of Art my brain was screaming “THIS IS WHY YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO WRITE YOUR BOOK!!!”

Side note: I’m working on a historical fiction novel, which has been a lifelong dream of mine. I’m 35K words in and can’t wait to share more with you.

I was filled with so much understanding, grace and even comfort reading this book. I finally understood why things weren’t clicking into place for me. And I started recognizing all the ways resistance was showing up in my life. There’s fear and unknowns and procrastination, all of which translate into resistance. I’m literally the queen of procrastination.

Here’s what Pressfield says about it:

“Procrastination is the most common manifestation of Resistance because it’s the easiest to rationalize. We don’t tell ourselves, ‘I’m never going to write my symphony.’ Instead we say, ‘I am going to write my symphony; I’m just going to start tomorrow.’”

That, my friend, is how I talk to myself about my book. I’m going to do it… tomorrow. Or, I’m going to do it but first I need to do X, Y, Z. And let me tell you, that “X, Y, Z” list is a LONG one. I’ve got two toddlers that come with plenty of to-dos. I’ve got two businesses where there’s always something going on. After reading this book, I sat for a very long time asking myself — “did I start a business as resistance to writing a book?” LOL. The best answer I’ve come up with is a very strong “maybe.”

So, I’m actively working against resistance over here. Every time I sit down and add to my book’s word count, I beat resistance. And I know the more I do it – the more I sit down and write, word after word – the easier it becomes to beat that resistance.

And, honestly, on those days I do sit down and write — I freaking love it. I love writing. It’s liberating and challenging and fun and adventurous and hard and freeing. I’ve never regretted a writing session. It’s like what they say about working out — you never regret a workout, you just have to get there in the first place. (Psst… Pressfield notes that exercise is another common place resistance loves to show up.)

I love writing. And I dream of this novel being in your hands one day. I just have to keep beating out resistance to get there.

Which means it’s time to go write, my friend.

---

Tell me, where does resistance show up in your life? What are those goals and dreams of yours that are struggling to become reality? I’d love to hear all about them, so we can battle resistance together.

---