Seth Godin, The Massie Effect, and First-Time Authors
Or, Why You Should Just Start
In a daily missive, Seth Godin wrote about The Massie Effect, which he describes as “the tendency of people who support good causes to believe they are in the minority.” He contrasts this with an interesting stat.
A study at Princeton showed that almost 80% of Americans believe we should take action on the climate, but those people believe that only 37% of their fellow Americans agree with them.
This resonates for me, because of the hesitation I’ve talked through with so many first-time authors. They say things like, “Why would anyone want to listen to me, there are better qualified people?” or “if I speak up, everyone will laugh at me.” Okay, they don’t exactly say the second one, but I can tell they’re thinking it. There’s a barrier built out of something akin to Impostor Syndrome that many writers have to climb over on their path to authorship.
The Massie Effect strikes me as valuable to understand because it’s a trick we play on ourselves. If you care enough that you feel the drive to write a book, but you’re held back by these kinds of feelings, it might be useful to keep in mind that most people are probably on your side.
![The Practice: Shipping Creative Work by [Seth Godin]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gubj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F053d32bc-e09c-48c2-a136-5a7c11c4969d_354x500.jpeg "The Practice: Shipping Creative Work by [Seth Godin]")
Godin wrote a very popular book about this, and I recommend it (it’s a good kick in the pants to just do it, already).
If you don’t already, try reading Seth’s blog—he’s great for nuggets like this one.
Ways you can work with me
These posts are a great way to learn and stay motivated, but if you feel like you need more hands-on help, or if you’re ready for more concrete steps, there are a few ways you can work with me.
Author Club is a place for writers—experienced authors, new authors, and not-yet-authors—to come together for mini lessons, to ask me questions, and to benefit from the substantial wisdom of the group. Join the waitlist for a chance to gain the momentum boost that comes from having regular check-ins with a community that supports your goals. Answer a few questions at the link below and I’ll let you know if I think it’s a good fit.
Author Start Workshops are for nonfiction authors who are just starting a project, who want to start a project, or who have lost their productivity and momentum on an ongoing book project. Writing a book is hard, but the right methodical start can give you the clarity you need to be more successful, sooner. Register your interest in the workshop at the link below and I’ll let you know when there’s space available.
1-on-1 Author Coaching is for authors who have big goals, big challenges, and need big accountability and insight. My approach is encouraging but realistic, big-picture but nuanced. Working with an author coach requires a serious commitment from you, but can be the quickest way to the other side.
Or, if you’re ready with a strong proposal related to health policy or public health, find me at Hopkins Press.