How do I motivate myself to write?

I’ve had several book ideas over the past 4-5 years. I’ve written chapters for one, developed my characters and outlined essentially the whole thing.

Then I just… don’t write it.

I think the fear of it being terrible stops me from even trying, which I know is incredibly dumb.

I should just write, see where that takes me. But I just come up with these ideas and outlines and don’t even share my writing anywhere they just sit in my notes for ages. How does one get over that fear and just doooo it?

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LustAndMadness · 51-55, M

It's ok to be terrible. You'd be surprised how many very successful authors are terrible. That's why the successful writers edit. The first draft doesn't have to be good. But it does have to be written. Just do it. Don't worry about how good or bad it is. The point is to get it written. When you've finished, then you can go over it and edit.

Writing is work. I think a lot of people don't understand this. They think it's just tapping out a bunch of words and sending them out into the world. It doesn't work that way. A real writer creates an outline, writes a first draft, a second draft, a third. It's a process. It takes time and perseverance. You make yourself get up in the morning and go to work, right? Well, when you get home, you have to make yourself write. Don't make excuses. Just do it. Write!