If
you’ve ever attempted jumping out of a plane (I have) or swimming with sharks
(I haven’t) or hiking K2 (I won’t) – you likely know something about fear. For
writers, fear can be our best friend or worst enemy depending on the day,
planetary alignments, or phase of the moon. I won’t belabor the idea because it’s
been the topic of many books: Big Magic and The War of Art being two that have
helped me greatly.
But
I will say this: fear has derailed more careers than lack of talent ever could.
We tend to get anxious about a big idea, new direction, or unknown journey –
and that’s normal. Fear can help us avoid
getting eaten by those sharks. But when it becomes the dominant driving force
in your life, you’re not going to get much done. So here are a few ways I’ve
found to help face the fear and keep moving forward.
1.
Find your TRIBE. If you can’t find a tribe, find one person who “gets it” and
start from there. You’d be surprised the impact one great CP or creative
sounding board can have on your work and overall confidence.
2.
Remember NO ONE is on your journey and, therefore, NO ONE but you can bring
your vision to life. There is a place for everyone because everyone’s place is
different. Remembering this can help you deal when jealousy or envy shows
itself. Nothing is more ugly or debilitating.
3.
WRITE ABOUT IT! What is more human than fear? Try to find a way to explore the
doubt, frustration, and anxiety through your characters. It will add dimension and
allow you to quiet the ego long enough to create something real.
4.
READ. Usually this is the answer for most things. Can’t write? Read. Feeling
lonely? Read. Want to get better at the craft of writing? Read. Need a break
from the expectations and doubts? Read. Bottom line is good readers make good
writers so grab something from your endless TBR pile and start turning some
pages. You’ll get your swagger back in no time and will likely pick up a few
new words, tricks, or plot ideas.
5.
Last but not least: give yourself a break. It’s normal to feel as if the walls
are closing in when the rejections start piling up. Look, if it was easy,
everyone would be doing it. It’s been said that all emotions can be boiled down
to either LOVE or FEAR. So if you’re feeling afraid, try to remember the
reasons why you love writing in the first place and tell that fear to back off!
I’d
love to hear some of the ways you quiet the fear demons.