Any endeavor is hardest at the start. In writing, there are different creative natures which will become the friends that will allow you to start your journey. Begin by learning techniques to overcome a fear of starting.
Knowing your creative personas will save you. They will help the words come more easily because they have a purpose at every stage of the writing process. So if you have already begun you journey and now faced with a stumbling block, it is perfectly fine. By discovering your creative natures, you will find that writing every word is a breeze. It would be just like free conversation between friends that bubbles along and cannot be stopped.
WHAT STOPS PEOPLE FROM BECOMING WRITERS?
Most people can write, and most people even believe they have a book they want to write. And yet, while it seems like the publishing industry is over flowing, the majority of people are not writing the book they have in mind, or at least not finishing it. If you have ever told anyone that you are a writer, you will be able to support me in this. The number of times people respond 'Oh, I have a great idea for a book' will convince you of the truth of this statement.
In the same way, an established writer may still have the same issues that hold back those who are just starting out. They may still think that their next project will be a failure. It is not wise to think that your fears will be gone once you become successful. You need to eliminate your fears because it will get in the way. You do not count on success to kill them.
FINDING YOUR WRITING WEAKNESS
Below is a list of statements that writers often feel. Go through and determine the ones that are most true for you. If they are all true, keep the list. If none of them are true are you sure you are a writer?
1) You don't think you are meant to be a writer, because often you sit down and nothing comes out.
2) You hate showing people your work because you know they will judge you and realize you're a fake.
3) You might have written well in the past, but each new project just shows how far you've fallen.
4) Your writing is just boring. You know you want to say something deep and meaningful, but it just has no spark.
5) You feel completely dry and wrung out, like your brain is a desert and all you can hear is the cry of the vultures waiting for you to finally give up and die.
6) You've gotten your characters into trouble and you just don't think you're going to be able to get them out!
7) At times you've avoided even looking at your desk because the thought of trying to sit down and write just scares you because it's too hard.
8) You never know where to start with a story. You just have too many ideas in my head.
9) You can't continue writing until you know that each word is perfect, so you keep going over and over your work and never getting anywhere.
10) You have great ideas, but never get around to sitting down and writing them.
11) You don't understand editing, and your second draft is usually just a complete re-write.
12) You love writing, but hate worrying about spelling and grammar, as they get in the way of a good session.
If you relate to any in 1-3, you will greatly benefit from getting to know your muse. Issues 4-6 come from your relationship with your genius. Issues 7 - 12 are to do with your youth and your elder. You might be completely stifling one for the sake of the other, or not utilizing one where you need to. If you can identify where your problems lie, then you know who you can team up with in order to solve them.
You will have to meet your allies to overcome these problems and eventually eliminate your fear of writing.
Knowing your creative personas will save you. They will help the words come more easily because they have a purpose at every stage of the writing process. So if you have already begun you journey and now faced with a stumbling block, it is perfectly fine. By discovering your creative natures, you will find that writing every word is a breeze. It would be just like free conversation between friends that bubbles along and cannot be stopped.
WHAT STOPS PEOPLE FROM BECOMING WRITERS?
Most people can write, and most people even believe they have a book they want to write. And yet, while it seems like the publishing industry is over flowing, the majority of people are not writing the book they have in mind, or at least not finishing it. If you have ever told anyone that you are a writer, you will be able to support me in this. The number of times people respond 'Oh, I have a great idea for a book' will convince you of the truth of this statement.
In the same way, an established writer may still have the same issues that hold back those who are just starting out. They may still think that their next project will be a failure. It is not wise to think that your fears will be gone once you become successful. You need to eliminate your fears because it will get in the way. You do not count on success to kill them.
FINDING YOUR WRITING WEAKNESS
Below is a list of statements that writers often feel. Go through and determine the ones that are most true for you. If they are all true, keep the list. If none of them are true are you sure you are a writer?
1) You don't think you are meant to be a writer, because often you sit down and nothing comes out.
2) You hate showing people your work because you know they will judge you and realize you're a fake.
3) You might have written well in the past, but each new project just shows how far you've fallen.
4) Your writing is just boring. You know you want to say something deep and meaningful, but it just has no spark.
5) You feel completely dry and wrung out, like your brain is a desert and all you can hear is the cry of the vultures waiting for you to finally give up and die.
6) You've gotten your characters into trouble and you just don't think you're going to be able to get them out!
7) At times you've avoided even looking at your desk because the thought of trying to sit down and write just scares you because it's too hard.
8) You never know where to start with a story. You just have too many ideas in my head.
9) You can't continue writing until you know that each word is perfect, so you keep going over and over your work and never getting anywhere.
10) You have great ideas, but never get around to sitting down and writing them.
11) You don't understand editing, and your second draft is usually just a complete re-write.
12) You love writing, but hate worrying about spelling and grammar, as they get in the way of a good session.
If you relate to any in 1-3, you will greatly benefit from getting to know your muse. Issues 4-6 come from your relationship with your genius. Issues 7 - 12 are to do with your youth and your elder. You might be completely stifling one for the sake of the other, or not utilizing one where you need to. If you can identify where your problems lie, then you know who you can team up with in order to solve them.
You will have to meet your allies to overcome these problems and eventually eliminate your fear of writing.
About the Author:
More about overcoming your fears as a writer is discussed in Buffy Greentree's book, The Five Day Writer's Retreat.
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