It’s because completing a manuscript from start to finish is a huge undertaking, and it is easy to become overwhelmed. When you think about the myriad of elements that must come together to make a successful novel, it is easy to become paralyzed.

So how are you supposed to continue?

By planning a course of action, and then moving forward deliberately, one step at a time.

When you break a large project down into small, bite-sized components, it can appear less daunting. An effective strategy for doing this is to make a list of each step involved in the project, and to check them off as you go along. Once you have a list of steps prepared, you know exactly where to begin, and what to do next. This counters the paralysis.

It is also helpful to develop a schedule and to set a weekly goal. But don’t be over-ambitious. Some writers sabotage themselves by setting unrealistic goals. It’s a common mistake, and it erects another psychological barrier to completing the project.

My personal approach is to set a very modest goal for each week. Once I achieve it, I give myself permission to pursue other interests.

My typical routine is to spend one week researching and outlining the chapter, and then the following week writing it. This helps me to develop a solid rhythm, and keeps the process from becoming monotonous.

For me this strategy works beautifully. It enabled me to finish my first book in a little over a year. I knew that if I completed one 8-10 page chapter every two weeks, I would have written approximately 250 pages by the end of the year. The finished manuscript ended up being closer to 300 pages.

Psychologically, this relieved me of a tremendous burden. I knew that as long as I met my minimum weekly goals, I would inevitably have a complete manuscript. Moreover, this allowed me to engage in other activities without an inner voice telling me that I should be writing.

Just be sure to keep your weekly goal small. Feeling that you have to reach a high word count can suck the fun out of writing, and make it feel like work. If you keep moving forward at a set but manageable pace, your novel will get finished. And then you can begin the process of revising, which is where the story really takes shape.