Now this is one topic I can get into because the truth of the matter – it has been my life for the past ten years or so. Yes, that is me. My name is Victoria and I am guilty of starting a project and stopping for various reasons. Those reasons range from procrastination, grief, writer’s block, thinking ‘Who will read this mess?’, and plain laziness (I have to be honest with myself before I can be with you!).

Authors Up has addressed redirecting your thinking on a few shows. We must dismiss the thought that no one will want to read what you write. There is an audience for your work, no matter what YOU think. That inner voice can be loud! It stopped me more times than I want to admit from putting my work out there.

There is someone who needs to hear only what you have to say. Your voice is unique and I have learned to write from my heart. Doing this is what matters and my words will bless someone – of that, I am sure. Please take this to heart. And now, I can move on to my other reasons for the Start and Stop Syndrome (my name for my disease).

Procrastination has not now and will never be our friend. It shows up loud and wrong every single time. It tells us we will start in an hour, tomorrow, next week, or as soon as we “feel” like we can write again. Truth is, that perfect moment never comes.

I’ve had every excuse imaginable but finally had to be honest, I wasn’t ready to write when I simply didn’t feel like it. And at times, it was pure laziness for me. I didn’t feel like doing the work. In those moments of honesty, discipline had to step in where motivation stepped out.

And I’ve learned that starting again wasn’t as complicated as I made it out to be. It didn’t require much motivation – just a decision to write. Even if it’s a single paragraph. Even if it’s not perfect. Progress needs to be real, not pretty.

Grief was a chokehold for me. It was a different kind of pause that took over every area of my life. There may be times for us all when writing feels impossible because life is too heavy. I think I stopped for two years when someone I loved as much as myself was killed instantly by a senseless bullet. During those moments, we must give ourselves grace. Writing again after grief doesn’t mean picking back up right where you stopped. You really are not the same, so your writing may be a bit slower, softer/harder, and different. And that’s ok too.  Ironically, looking back, I wish I had written down the pain I carried. Putting it on paper would have helped me release it sooner. So, try it if you think it will help. There is no right or wrong.

I don’t have it all figured out. I still have moments where I pause, where doubt creeps in, and where life tries to pull me away from the page.

But this time, I always come back. I am no longer allowing the start-and-stop cycle to define me. I am learning to move through it, to write anyway, and to trust that what I have to say matters.

If you see yourself anywhere in my story, then let this be your reminder—you can start again too. Not when everything is right. Not when you feel completely ready.

Starting again isn’t about perfection, it’s about willingness.

I’ve stopped more times than I can count. But I’m still here. Still writing. Still becoming.

And so can you. Start again. Someone is waiting for what only you can give.