What if I'm not good enough?

Out of all the negative thoughts running around your head, the one in charge of self-doubt is the worst. It's the same voice that tells you not to go for the job, or that you can't pull off those amazing red shoes. Throw whatever obscenities you like in its direction - it needs to be hushed. The truth is, there is no way of knowing until you give it a try. So, go for it!

Kate Michaels

Kate Michaels

What if it's a waste of time?

When you have a busy lifestyle, as most of us do, the idea of spending years on a project that doesn't go anywhere is scary. But, the great thing about the current publishing landscape is that there are more options than ever to get your book out there. If you don't manage to catch the eye of an agent or traditional publisher, why not try self-publishing? Ever heard of E L James!? Know that at the end of the process you can get your novel out there.

I'll start it next week

Ahh… procrastination. I talked about my great idea for a novel for about five years before I started writing it. What a waste of time. You might have the best idea in the world, but it means nothing until it's down on paper. As soon as you've finished reading this article sit down for 15 minutes and write something. Whether it's a summary of the plot, a character idea or a location, get those fingers typing. See, it wasn't so hard - and now you've officially started your novel!

It's too big and intimidating, I don't know where to begin

If you can't remember the last time you wrote something longer than a shopping list, the idea of a whole book can seem impossible. You're staring at a blank screen thinking about how you need to write tens of thousands of words. Don't. That's terrifying! Break it down. How many words do you want to write overall (check out similar books and see what the average is)? How many chapters do you want (again, look at similar books and think about how your chapters might tie in with your overall plot and structure)? Now you know how many words you need per chapter, give yourself a realistic target for how many you need to write per week. You can start low and work your way up once you get into the flow. And, remember, you don't necessarily have to start at the beginning. If those first few lines are too intimidating, skip them. Jump in a bit further down. Plenty of novelists actually write the beginning of their book at the end. There are no rules!

I haven't got time

Everyone has different responsibilities - whether it's your career, your family, or remodeling the house - so it's unlikely you'll have months of blissful 'me time' to devote to writing. There are only so many hours in a day (although I often wish there were a few more!), but most of us have 'fat' in our schedule that can reallocated to writing. Whether it's getting up half an hour earlier, using your commute (as long as you're not driving!), your lunch hour, the time while the kids are asleep or that crap TV show is on, find the fat that's hiding in your schedule and make the most of it!

I'll just check my emails…

But you just checked them five minutes ago! And, while you're at it, turn off the TV, stop playing with the cat and move your mobile phone out of the room. Concentrate! I don't like my voice like this!

I can't think of a title or character name

This is probably not as important as you think when you're starting out. Chose a character name and get on with it. You can change it at any point. You might start the book writing about Amy and change it to Esmeralda six months in. By the end she could be Tracy. It's something that can come as you get to now her better. The same with your title. Some people start with a great title and work from there. Others get inspiration from something they've written in their final chapter. I had my title early on and it never changed, but yours might come to you after six chapters or six months - nobody will ever know.

I've been staring at the screen for half an hour and I've only written one sentence

Writer's block. There's always a moment when, according to your schedule, you should have written 2000 words and you only have 500. Step away from the computer. Listen to music, make a snack, clear out your wallet. Now sit back down. Still can't think what to write next? Try something for later in the novel. Write an alternative scenario that isn't for the book. Think of it as a spin-off scene. Put your character in a ridiculous situation and see how it plays out. It may be that something interesting comes from it. It may be that it doesn't. Either way, you've got to know your character better and you've probably made it through the block. Now go back to where you were and just bang out some words. If you don't end up keeping it, it's not the end of the world. Remember, every writer has had it, from Neil Gaiman to Hilary Mantel. And they have got over it.

But all my friends are out having fun!

I've had evenings when I've left work, walked past my friends drinking Prosecco in the sunshine and nearly caved. I'll just have one… and before you know it, you've lost another chunk of writing time and you can't even remember if it was worth it. Be strict. If you're used to going out five times a week, you don't have to give up socializing entirely, but you do need to prioritise. Chose a few nights and stick to them. And for the ones you miss? They wouldn't be that much fun without you, anyway!

How can I tell if it's any good?

At some point you're going to have to let somebody else read your book. It's scary, but surely this was the whole idea? Choose who you send it to carefully. Maybe you're lucky enough to know someone in the industry, maybe it's a friend who was great at English at school, maybe it's someone who fits into your potential readership? Once you have a draft you can keep working on it, but it's a good time to find out if there are any inconsistencies, annoying characters or major plot holes that you haven't spotted. Be ready to take constructive criticism and don't get defensive! You are asking for their opinion. If it's "I like it," that's encouraging, but not particularly helpful. Chances are it still needs some work before you turn it into the future bestseller it's destined to be!

Kate Michaels' debut novel The Morning After Memoirs is available from July 14 in paperback and eBook formats. A smart, candid slant on the world of dating, it reimagines the world of Sex And The City with the biting realism of Lena Dunham's Girls in the story of one woman's search for love, meaning, and a low-calorie alternative to wine.

Follow Kate on Twitter @kmichaelsauthor