10 Fears That Keep You From Writing Your Best
Although to outsiders, writing just looks like sitting at a desk all day, typing or scribbling and doing little else,we writers know what is going on. In addition to the internal battles and plot knots and other things, there are multiple fears that stop you from writing your best.
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There are many more than those on this list that I am sure you may (unfortunately) run into. But here I have listed ten.
10 Fears That Keep You From Writing Your Best:
1. "I don't know what I'm writing about." Do you have to? I mean, experience is a great source to draw from, but there is no way you can know everything about everything. What else is imaguimagin for than to be used? However, if not knowing what you need to know in order to write your story, a little research might be helpful. :)
2. "It's already been said..." Maybe, but just because the point you're trying to make has already been said, doesn't mean it should STOP being said. Some things never lose their impact. Everyone has a different way of thinking and a different point of view. Maybe something has been said, but not the way YOU can say it .
3. "Get a real job!" We've all heard this before. It's the sentence every writer dreads: AS IF POURING OUT OUR HEART AND SOUL ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!! (Just kidding--sort of). Ok, here's the gist: yes, no one starts out as a writing sensation (well, except Steven King, but before that, he was a "starving artist"..). And deep down we all know that we can't sit home and just write all day--until your debut novel comes out anyway. While we're working on our novel, it's nice to make some money meanwhile. Just because you have another job (because, yes, writing is a real job!) doesn't mean you can't always write as well. Don't let this worry stunt your literary growth.
4. Dooming yourself before you begin: "I'll never do well." You need to have confidence in your work. Sometimes, writing portrays your subconscious (not always, but sometimes). If you doubt your ability, your ability will be stunted. It's always good to have a creatively-centered critic so that you can push past your limits and always excel. However, you can't treat yourself like a doormat. When you're writing, you need to bring everything to the threshold. That means a will to improve as well as confidence.
5. "People will think it's cheesy." We can never know. As artists, we will never have total confidence in our work--there will always be the voice that tells us that no one will accept what we've done, or that no one will take us seriously. But there's no way to know for sure until you've opened up to someone, and I know this is EXTREMELY difficult. We want to improve but we're almost afraid of criticism. Don't let this fear stop you from pushing on.
6. "So and so finished a novel in six months. I must be a bad writer." Sometimes stories of others' success can be inspiring. My sister wrote three songs in one month and immediately I was just like 'Ok. I need to write.' But other times, looking at other people's success and comparing them to your work will only prolong your own success. Beating yourself down will only make it harder on your creative vein. Don't sweat. Sometimes it takes longer.
7. "No one will take me seriously." When we try to write in a serious vein but are not sure if it will be taken seriously. There is a time for laughter and comedy, and a time for seriousness and darker topics. Sometimes those serious topics need to be written about. Do net let this fear stop you. However, if you keep the book 'dark' all the way through, honestly, it gets boring. Life is all about happiness and sorrow. A novel should include both.
8. "You have to publish young to be successful." This is untrue. Although many successful authors start writing at a young age, this does not determine your success. Many successful authors are middle-aged and even older. Just because your debut novel didn't come out before you were 31 doesn't mean you can't ever be successful. Hard work will get you further than the boost of an early start.
9. "You have to write like so-and-so and such-and-such to produce a bestseller." Although there are favorites in the book industry, this doesn't shut you out. Uniqueness is a virtue of art, and trying to make your work follow someone else's is like shutting your creative down. We can draw inspiration from outside sources, but it is the people's love for a book that makes it a bestseller. People love sincerity.
10. "This isn't worth anything." Ok, I personally struggle with this one a lot. As much as we hate to admit it, sometime throughout the writing process, we find ourselves thinking 'Is this worth anything? What can I possibly say that will be of any value?' These times are hard--falling into a literary slump.
Writers feel like we put an awful lot at stake--most of the time, worry is inevitable. But there are some fears that will only hold you back from your full potential.
Try to identify them.
If they truly merit attention, try to find a way to fix them. If not, try to ignore them the best you can and move on .
You ARE capable!
Let's Chat!
1. Have you experienced any of these fears?
2. What sort of fears do you, as a writer, have?
3. Do you believe that certain fears can stop literary growth?
1. "I don't know what I'm writing about." Do you have to? I mean, experience is a great source to draw from, but there is no way you can know everything about everything. What else is imaguimagin for than to be used? However, if not knowing what you need to know in order to write your story, a little research might be helpful. :)
2. "It's already been said..." Maybe, but just because the point you're trying to make has already been said, doesn't mean it should STOP being said. Some things never lose their impact. Everyone has a different way of thinking and a different point of view. Maybe something has been said, but not the way YOU can say it .
3. "Get a real job!" We've all heard this before. It's the sentence every writer dreads: AS IF POURING OUT OUR HEART AND SOUL ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!! (Just kidding--sort of). Ok, here's the gist: yes, no one starts out as a writing sensation (well, except Steven King, but before that, he was a "starving artist"..). And deep down we all know that we can't sit home and just write all day--until your debut novel comes out anyway. While we're working on our novel, it's nice to make some money meanwhile. Just because you have another job (because, yes, writing is a real job!) doesn't mean you can't always write as well. Don't let this worry stunt your literary growth.
4. Dooming yourself before you begin: "I'll never do well." You need to have confidence in your work. Sometimes, writing portrays your subconscious (not always, but sometimes). If you doubt your ability, your ability will be stunted. It's always good to have a creatively-centered critic so that you can push past your limits and always excel. However, you can't treat yourself like a doormat. When you're writing, you need to bring everything to the threshold. That means a will to improve as well as confidence.
5. "People will think it's cheesy." We can never know. As artists, we will never have total confidence in our work--there will always be the voice that tells us that no one will accept what we've done, or that no one will take us seriously. But there's no way to know for sure until you've opened up to someone, and I know this is EXTREMELY difficult. We want to improve but we're almost afraid of criticism. Don't let this fear stop you from pushing on.
6. "So and so finished a novel in six months. I must be a bad writer." Sometimes stories of others' success can be inspiring. My sister wrote three songs in one month and immediately I was just like 'Ok. I need to write.' But other times, looking at other people's success and comparing them to your work will only prolong your own success. Beating yourself down will only make it harder on your creative vein. Don't sweat. Sometimes it takes longer.
7. "No one will take me seriously." When we try to write in a serious vein but are not sure if it will be taken seriously. There is a time for laughter and comedy, and a time for seriousness and darker topics. Sometimes those serious topics need to be written about. Do net let this fear stop you. However, if you keep the book 'dark' all the way through, honestly, it gets boring. Life is all about happiness and sorrow. A novel should include both.
8. "You have to publish young to be successful." This is untrue. Although many successful authors start writing at a young age, this does not determine your success. Many successful authors are middle-aged and even older. Just because your debut novel didn't come out before you were 31 doesn't mean you can't ever be successful. Hard work will get you further than the boost of an early start.
9. "You have to write like so-and-so and such-and-such to produce a bestseller." Although there are favorites in the book industry, this doesn't shut you out. Uniqueness is a virtue of art, and trying to make your work follow someone else's is like shutting your creative down. We can draw inspiration from outside sources, but it is the people's love for a book that makes it a bestseller. People love sincerity.
10. "This isn't worth anything." Ok, I personally struggle with this one a lot. As much as we hate to admit it, sometime throughout the writing process, we find ourselves thinking 'Is this worth anything? What can I possibly say that will be of any value?' These times are hard--falling into a literary slump.
Writers feel like we put an awful lot at stake--most of the time, worry is inevitable. But there are some fears that will only hold you back from your full potential.
Try to identify them.
If they truly merit attention, try to find a way to fix them. If not, try to ignore them the best you can and move on .
You ARE capable!
Let's Chat!
1. Have you experienced any of these fears?
2. What sort of fears do you, as a writer, have?
3. Do you believe that certain fears can stop literary growth?
1. Have you experienced any of these fears?
ReplyDeleteOF COURSE
2. What sort of fears do you, as a writer, have?
I fear that my writing is too fluffy(and lets be honest, most of the time it is). I'd like to write deep books with morals and layers upon layers of analogies, but sometimes it feels like all my writing is good for is comic relief.
3. Do you believe that certain fears can stop literary growth?
YES definitely!
Yes, I have the same fear. And sometimes when I try to make it real deep I'm afraid it just sounds dumb, you know? Do you get that feeling? Comedy isn't always bad though. :)
DeleteThanks for commenting!
YES I totally agree!!! I feel like all my deep writing sounds fakey and dumb most of the time.
DeleteEXACTLY!! I guess it gets better with more practice?? Idk. I feel like deep stories aren't always super blatant about their moral. Like, it's there throughout the whole thing, but not super obviously stated. What do you think?
DeleteI think you're right, but its pretty difficult to say stuff without saying stuff, you know?
DeleteYes, exactly! :)
Delete1. Have you experienced any of these fears?
ReplyDeleteOF COURSE! I would be not a human if I didn't.
2. What sort of fears do you, as a writer, have?
I fear that I am not funny when I mean to be humorous in my stories. I worry that my stories are too cliche and need to be changed. I fear that somebody would say it is too cheesy.
3. Do you believe that certain fears can stop literary growth?
If you let your fears get to you of course it can stop your literary growth!
Yeah. That fear is a hard one. Writers all want to be wholly unique, so it follows that that fear would be one of the worst. What would you advise for pushing past these fears? :)
DeleteMaybe have the mindset of "so what?" There are lots of published stories in the world that have similar plot lines and similar love triangles and etc, writing it is not going to stop you from being a famous author one day. It gives you experience and some people actually like cliche stories believe it or not.
Delete