You’re Not Behind on Writing Your Novel

If you feel behind on writing your novel, I want you to hear this clearly: you’re not doing anything wrong. Feeling behind is not a failure of discipline or commitment; it’s a natural consequence of writing something that belongs to you. Your novel isn’t assigned, scheduled, or graded. There is no external deadline unless you choose one. When you’re writing your own story, on your own terms, the timeline is yours to set, revise, and revisit as life demands.

And yet, many aspiring novelists measure themselves as if there is a clock they’re failing to beat. Especially at the beginning of the year, it’s easy to internalize the idea that you should already be further along, that if you haven’t started strong, you’ve somehow missed your chance.

But writing a novel doesn’t follow the calendar.

It doesn’t begin neatly on January 1 and progress in straight lines toward completion. Stories arrive when they arrive. They develop slowly, often in the margins of busy lives. If you’re a teacher, a parent, or simply someone balancing multiple responsibilities, your writing has likely never had the luxury of being first on the list.

That doesn’t mean you lack motivation. It means you’re writing a novel the way most people actually do.

One of the biggest myths I see writers struggle with is the belief that they’re “behind” because they didn’t stick to a plan. I’ve experienced this first-hand as a writer many times. In fact, I experienced this negative self-talk this past week. I set out a plan to complete a certain number of revisions on my novel, but I didn’t complete them. Because of this “failure,” I fell into an old pattern of thinking, I’m behind again, and started to slip into a spiral until I reminded myself: “I’m not behind. This is my novel. I’m in charge.”

You may have to say this out loud a few times to really believe it. I did. Try it now.

I’m not behind. This is my novel. I’m in charge.

Instead of beating yourself and asking, Why do I always feel behind?, try asking a different question: How can I re-enter my novel right now?

Re-entering doesn’t require starting over. It doesn’t demand a daily word count or a grand declaration. It might mean rereading what you already wrote. It could be a single page of freewriting about a character who won’t let you go. Sometimes, it’s simply reconnecting with why this story matters to you in the first place.

There is no “behind” when you’re writing your own novel. There is only the process of learning how you write—and giving yourself permission to keep going.

A Clear Way Forward—On Your Terms

If you’re ready to take control of your novel but you’re not sure what the next step should be, my mini coaching package was designed for this exact moment.

In a short, focused container, we’ll clarify what you’re working on, identify what’s keeping you stuck, and create a clear, realistic plan forward—one that works with your life instead of against it. This isn’t about catching up, doing more, or forcing momentum before you’re ready. It’s about deciding how you want to move forward and having thoughtful, experienced support as you do.

Your novel doesn’t belong to a deadline. It belongs to you. And you don’t have to figure the path forward alone.