Your Novel Is Not Going to Reject You
Let's talk about talking to women.
Stay with me. This is a writing blog. I promise it connects.
The Guy Who Can't Walk Over
You've seen this guy. Maybe you've been this guy.
He sees her across the room. He wants to say something. His brain immediately starts writing the rejection scene.
She's going to think you're weird.
She's going to laugh.
She's going to say no and everyone will see.
So he doesn't move. He stays in his little corner. Safe. Silent. Alone with his what-ifs.
The conversation he was afraid of never happens. But neither does the one he wanted.
What Confident Guys Know
If you ask a guy who actually approaches women, he'll tell you something surprising.
Most women appreciate confidence. Not arrogance. Not pickup lines. Just the willingness to walk over and be a human being.
They respect that you tried. Even if it doesn't go anywhere.
The rejection he was so afraid of? It's usually just a polite "no thanks" and everyone moves on. The world doesn't end. Nobody points and laughs.
The fear was bigger than the thing itself.
Now Let's Talk About Your Novel
I see the same pattern with creative work.
You want to write. You've wanted to for years. But every time you think about starting, your brain writes the failure scene.
It's going to be terrible.
People are going to think you're pretending to be something you're not.
You're going to put in all this work and it won't be good enough.
So you don't start. You stay in your corner. Safe. Silent. Alone with your what-ifs.
The failure you were afraid of never happens. But neither does the book.
The Difference
Here's the thing though.
A woman might actually reject you. That's a real possibility. She's a person with preferences and a life and maybe she's just not interested. Fair enough.
But your novel?
Your novel is not going to reject you.
The blank page isn't going to say "no thanks." Your characters aren't going to laugh at your attempt. The story isn't going to tell you you're not its type.
The only rejection happening is you rejecting yourself before you start.
Approach With Confidence and Respect
If you truly want to talk to someone, you approach with confidence. Not because you're guaranteed a yes. But because you respect yourself enough to try, and you respect them enough to be genuine.
Creative work is the same.
If you truly want to write, approach it with confidence. Not arrogance—you're still a rookie and the craft deserves respect. It's hard. It takes work. It's not to be taken lightly.
But if you're ready? Walk over. Introduce yourself. See what happens.
The page is waiting. And I promise, it's not going to shoot you down.
Try This
Think about a creative project you've been circling but not approaching.
Now ask yourself: what rejection am I afraid of? Who exactly is going to say no?
If the answer is just you—your own fear, your own doubt, your own imagined critics—then you've got nothing to lose.
Walk over. Say hello. Start.
What have you been too nervous to approach?