Ivan is stalling.
He finished his novel weeks ago and yet he still hasn’t published it to the Kindle.
Ivan will tell you it’s because the final chapters need just a bit more work but really they’re done.
The real reason is he’s afraid.
He’s afraid of what his friends and family will say once they find out.
He’s terrified that his old school bullies will find the novel and tear him to shreds like they did so often.
They’ll point out all the spelling mistakes, the plot holes and unrelatable characters and wet themselves with laughter.
Ivan doesn’t know this but as a teenager he internalised the belief that if he’s anything but perfect, he’ll be ripped limb from limb.
So now Ivan’s dream of becoming a published author is being hindered by the fact that he wore odd socks to school once.
You can do it Ivan, hit publish!
Thomas Duggan 