Do you experience fear when it comes to writing stories?
Fear might rise when you sit down to write and your creative idea doesn't translate as well onto the page as you'd imagined. Or you freeze with fingers on the keyboard and the fantastic idea that has haunted you for weeks is now nowhere to be seen.
Experiencing fears while crafting a story, when giving a draft to a reader, editor or book coach for feedback, or submitting for publication are all perfectly normal. In fact, I think it's a rare writer who doesn't experience creative writing fears or imposter syndrome.
We don't want our fears to stop us from taking action but in a way the fears let us know how much our goal means to us. It lets us know that writing is important and we want to get it right, be told we can write or get that publishing deal. But it also may be telling us negative things that are meant to keep us safe, living small, and an attempt to steer us away from creating the success in our writing that we're dreaming about. Our fear is protecting us from getting hurt.
Being a writer means living in the liminal space between writing craft, imagination, doing the writing work and having no control over external responses to the story.
It's an uneasy feeling.
And when it comes to pitching for publication the only control we writers have is in the hours of work we've put into crafting our story, learning writing craft and applying it to the manuscript, and in developing a pitch that will capture the attention of an acquiring editor or agent.
For some writers, the liminal space can be scary and hard to navigate, especially without community or fiction book coach support.
When we're in our heads, our fears chat away, telling us all sorts of things that may not even be true. That's when it's time to check in and consider what beliefs may be interfering with the writing process.
Do you ever hear your inner critic say something like this:
"What if I get it wrong? I shouldn't keep writing."
"What if my story isn't perfect? I must get it right before I get it edited."
"Writing is a waste of time. My story sucks. I can't do this. It's too hard. I'm going to delete it."
"Do I have any talent to write? My fifth grade teacher said I couldn't spell so, they must be right... I won't even try to write my story."
"You're going to get one star reviews if you put that out. What if no-one buys it? What if you're a failure? Don't even bother writing your story... Here let's scroll social media."
And on and on the fears talk ... these thoughts are insidious, right?!
I've learned that limiting beliefs about our writing are fears in disguise trying to stop us from writing our stories. Probably trying to keep us safe, and living small.
The choice is whether to keep listening to that inner critical voice and letting it interfere with your creative expression or not.
Each writer has the power to tell the inner critic to sit in the passenger seat and be quiet while creating, but we often let this inner critic and old behaviour patterns or misguided beliefs interfere with our dreams.
Why?
Why allow the inner fears and beliefs given to us by other well-meaning people derail us from writing? From getting quality feedback to help our writing craft improve? From publishing our best work?
In my experience, when I've challenged these inner voices that tell me, "your writing's not good enough," or "you need to do one more course and then you'll get it right," I've learned that fear has disguised itself as perfectionism and avoidance. It's trying to keep me safe and living small.
But when I reframe these thoughts and focus on feeling safe, taking consistent action toward my goals, these inner thoughts lose their power over me. It comes and goes, and I'm by no means perfect. I'm human and I too go through imposter syndrome and fears, but I try not to allow them to control my life.
I've learned that by taking time to question the validity of these internal critical and fearful thoughts, I have reclaimed my creative control.
When that happens, I am able to focus on what I do have control over - which is the writing, turning up to write, working with professionals such as fiction book coaches and editors to improve my manuscript. When I take a curious approach, I learn about my writing weaknesses and how to address them so my stories are stronger. I not only draft but edit and finish my stories to a standard I know is ready for readers.
That's creative writing empowerment.
In a strange way, creative writing fears are asking us to have the courage to feel the fear and take action anyway.
Our writing fears ask us to consider how important is this writing gig is to us?
And, like the saboteur archetype, the fears challenge us to fight through the inertia and take the action to become victors.
So... next time a fear comes up to stop you, become the victor and take back your creative writing power. Question the thoughts and beliefs, and see what lessons they may be teaching you about your writing process as well as how the saboteur archetype might be rising to try to keep you safe.
You've got this.
Write a messy first draft and get the story down. Worry about perfecting it later. Just know that writing a good story that readers love is more about being brave enough to get quality and constructive feedback, rewriting, editing and revision phases than the first draft.
A first draft is never publishable...
I learned that as a young writer myself. It's an achievement for sure but the draft is like a new born baby without nappies and spraying the ceiling with pee. It needs clothing, nourishing food, love, boundaries, and more nurturing to mature into the story that will shine and hold its own in the marketplace.
As I'm not a clinical psychologist or counsellor, the above is my perspective only and based on my own experiences of fear as well as what I see happen for many writers. If, at anytime, you need mental health support, please reach out to a professional counsellor or psychologist in your area. They're marvellous people who really can help!
But if you're circling around and getting stuck in your story, contact me and let's chat about fiction coaching to help you stay accountable, develop your writing skills, and get your amazing story on the page!
I've said it before. I'll say it again: You. Have. Got. This!
