To the People Who Think They Can’t Write

The sense of doubt and fear towards writing is a feeling that I have also been familiar with, and that is mainly also the reason why people have this phobia of beginning to write or in most cases even of facing a blank page. However, let me tell you why those fears are so widespread and how even the best authors have been able to get over those inhibitions and present some strategies to deal with the inner critic that wants to stifle it.

Elucidating the Fear of Writing

The first thing to bear in mind when tackling the fear of writing is that, more often than not, it is associated with the anxiety of being judged and the absence of failure. As studies in psychology show, the fear of failing can result in what experts label ‘anxiety in performance’. This fear response causes tension and hinders the ability to articulate or concentrate. Research further explains that perfectionism stays on the way of creativity. For a lot of wannabe writers, they are often so self-critical that they can’t risk putting out anything unless it is perfect.

In addition, writing is often considered synonymous with success in the society we live in today. Some might tell themselves that writing is out of their scope, especially if it wasn’t their best subject in school, or they found grammatical errors challenging to understand or even comprehend. But this is fact that any other skill through writing too can be learned and mastered with time.

Bestselling Authors Who Defeated Their Doubts

If you think that authors are people of confidence in their abilities and never have any doubts, you might as well rethink that because even the most quoted ones had a story that revolved around hesitation. Like J.K. Rowling, who is one of the most remarkable authors today’s generation has ever had, has begun her life with numerous turndowns from various publishing houses. She painted pictures of herself as a depressed single parent who did not believe in her potentials. But she did not give up, I mean, look where it took her!

This includes literature heavyweights such as Maya Angelou who also had her fair share of self-doubt. She was reputed to say “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” But she did not let that fear consume her as she was able to channel these experiences into writing and talking which became the reason why many people looked up to her.

Even, Stephen King known for being very productive, published a book after being rejected several times. He was writing ‘Carrie’ when he held three other jobs, and after endless down beats, he almost called it quits. It was his wife who encouraged him to keep going, and today he is among the top-selling authors of all time.

It is these illustrations that bring to bear upon us, the fact that even the highly reckoned writers we know today once encountered the wall of indecisiveness and reluctance. Their stories particularly underpin a very important thing which is sometimes the ability to ‘fight the fear of writing’ depends on determination.

Advice for Solving the Problem of Hesitation in Writing

Little Steps, Big Changes: If the thought of composing an entire book seems too big to handle, begin with very few pieces of writing. Journaling, prompts for writing, or even very short stories can assist one's confidence. I remember that when I started writing, I could only write three or four sentences a day, and gradually it became simpler.

Be Authentic: Do your best to glorify modest achievements. Aim for perfection and you are doomed. For example, no one expects you to write a novel; trying to write for 10 minutes every day or doing even one paragraph, give yourself those small rewards, they pile up!

Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes: Give yourself permission to write poorly. The first draft is more about completing the thoughts rather than making them perfect. I do the same since most of the time revision is the real magic. It is absolutely normal to feel that whatever you are writing feels like a first draft and is pretty bad – just write.

Remove Negative Reinforcement, if Possible: Find people that will support your endeavor of putting your thoughts on paper. Become a member of a writers’ circle or contact those friends who have similar objectives. Such help can be priceless for overcoming some of your fears.

Read a Lot: Reading can motivate you and create a bond with other writers. Read as many genres and styles as you can in order to experience writing from different writers. You may discover such methods that suit you.

Practice Mindfulness: Hot anxiety might also stem from hot worries and fears. Activities like meditation or mindfulness can provide a wide berth of calm that is very supportive of the writing, or an assist in the writing direction. Even taking a few deep breaths prior to sitting down to write can be helpful.

Visualize Success: Visualize yourself full of creativity, writing confidently and without any self-doubt. This is because, in this technique, visualization is utilized to counter fear. More so, visualize how what you have written will be received and that you will receive compliments. This approach assisted me to change from fear to enthusiasm.

Conclusion

To anybody who bears the feeling that they can’t be able to write let me say this: in some way, we are all frightened just as you are and certainly, we all do have hope. It is worth it to note that every writer, whoever they are, and whatever their achievements has the same worries that you are going through now. Embrace the journey, take those small steps, and give yourself permission to write imperfectly. The time has come for the world to hear what you have to say and if fear has been the reason why you are still keeping quiet, then it has no place in your future. It is not only achieving the final product that matters in writing, but rather, the whole journey, the development and the narratives that only you can create. So why not, take that pen or even your computer. Your narrative needs to be told, so go ahead and write it.