An extra and VERY important lesson:
I’m popping in very quickly with something important that I didn’t want to leave only in tomorrow’s video.
If you’re still opening these emails on Day 10—even if you’re not commenting, even if you’re not in the chat—this message is for you.
There are still over a hundred of you who are opening the emails, watching the videos, reading along, and quietly doing the work. And I want you to know:
If you are still here on Day 10, you have what it takes to be an author.
Even if you don’t understand everything.
Even if you don’t feel confident.
Even if you’re questioning your idea or you ability.
But because you are still going.
Writing books does not require talent in the way people like to imagine it does. It doesn’t require knowing how everything works from the start—especially not when a lot of this information is new, and your brain is probably feeling very full and a little overwhelmed right now.
What it does require is persistence.
And consistency.
And a slightly stubborn willingness to keep going even when it feels hard.
Every seasoned author—even the ones who have been publishing for decades, even the ones who write a book a year—faces these same moments.
The doubt.
The resistance.
The feeling that maybe they don’t want to do this after all because it’s uncomfortable and demanding and mentally exhausting.
Writing books is hard. That’s exactly why so many people want to do it, and so few people actually finish one.
The difference is not talent;
It’s that the people who finish just keep going.
So if you’re still here, still opening the emails, still showing up—even imperfectly—I want to say congratulations.
That matters more than you probably realise.
As we move into Day 11 tomorrow, and into the next stretch of this challenge, remember this: we still have 19 days to go. And authors are not the people who never struggle: they’re the people who keep swimming anyway.
If at any point the resistance gets loud—if you start to feel overwhelmed, or confused, or like there’s too much information, or like your idea isn’t good enough—please email me.
That’s what I’m here for.
This is a live challenge, and I’m replying to you.
(And just to say: if you’ve commented and I haven’t replied, it’s not because I didn’t want to…it means I missed it. Things do get lost sometimes. Please email me, or post again. I promise I’m not ignoring you.)
I’m here to help you through the resistance. I’m here to talk it through with you. I’m here to be your guide while you learn how to keep going.
You can always reach me at shelly@academyofstory.com.
So…congratulations for still being here. Truly. If you stick with this challenge to the end, you will already be closer to being an author than most people ever get, even if the only thing you learn is how to persist.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
And until then: just keep swimming.
Xx Shelly
