Ask HN: How do you overcome the fear of starting?

5 points_jdams9y ago3 comments

I recently decided I wanted to start a blog about something I am fairly knowledgeable about, and then possibly take that and develop it further into either tutorials or an eBook and video guide. While browsing Hacker News, I learned about a guide series called Authority by Nathan Barry, which I believe walks through how to create and market an eBook/series of this type.

Disclaimer: I am NOT AT ALL affiliated with this program or Nathan, and have not even purchased or started the guide yet myself.

I've been struggling to get started. The best I've done recently is start creating an outline of topics, starting with the Intro and why someone would want to follow along, but I haven't hit the computer to actually start. I figure others also struggle with this type of thing. Are there any techniques you use to push yourself to overcome that fear of starting? I KNOW I should just pick one of the topics I've outlined and just do the damn thing, but it's easier said than done.

3 comments

3 comments · 2 top-level

srameshc9y ago· 1 in thread

If I am on to a large project, I try to break it into really tiny modules. Then work on each module and try not to do too much at one go, by saying that I mean I try not to stress myself out with being over ambitious about achieving too much at one go. That helps me moving forward and achieve over time.

_jdamsOP9y ago

Seems similar to how I mentioned I created an outline of topics I wanted to cover. I can turn these into really small modules, just pick one, and go.

fimdomeio9y ago

If it's something you really want to do, I would say, don't think about it and just start. One of the most powerfull tricks I learned is that things are never that good, when you start, but thats how it is supposed to be. Start somewhere, look at what is not completly awful, improve / redo whatever needs to be done. Failing is ok, if you keep going.