What is your biggest fear when it comes to writing? Fear can hold you back, make you second-guess yourself, and take away from an otherwise amazing experience. Today, let’s dive into some of those fears and how I was able to tame them to keep myself moving forward.
For the most part, taming a fear of writing comes down to mindset. How you view yourself and what you wish to achieve will shape how the future unfolds.
Sometimes, those fears are not the easiest to overcome and could take years to master. But speaking from experience, it’s worth every moment you invest in yourself.
11 Common Writing Fears I’ve Tamed and How
Keep in mind that most of us have a variety of fears based on our past experiences. These fears are driven not only by those in our lives, but from ourselves. And some of us will have unique issues that need to be addressed.
However, I am listing the most common that I’ve dealt with myself and a few that I’ve seen from other writers on social media.
1. Not Being Successful
Too many writers take to writing books in the hopes of becoming a household name. And a lot of new authors expect to be best-selling authors right from the jump. I know of one personally who was banking on selling tons of copies on day one.
Success, for the most part, is subjective. What one person views as being successful, another does not. So, you need to decide what it means to you to be “successful.” Is it selling 100 copies per day, or simply that someone read and liked your book?
Out of the many people who say they want to write a book, only 3% of them will finish writing a first draft. Of those, between 1% and 3% will actually publish the book. Seeing my book on the shelf behind me reminds me that I have done what a lot of folks haven’t, and that is what I determine as triumphant.
What are some things I changed to avoid being fearful of not being successful?
- The purpose of why I write
I write to tell stories, not to be on best-seller lists. It’s a passionate hobby, and I don’t dwell on the lack of sales. - Realizing I am ahead of most writers
As I pointed out a second ago, simply writing the first draft puts me in a very small group. I relish in that fact. - Understanding how marketing works
Poor marketing does not equate to a poor book. I don’t sell a lot of copies because I don’t properly market them.
2. Not Living Up to Others’ Expectations
Not living up to the expectations of others is often driven by comparisons. You should never compare your style of storytelling to that of other authors, especially those who have been writing for decades.
Another element of expectation can come from your family or close friends. Are you worried what your parents will think of the book? Are you afraid of letting them down because it’s not a well-written story?
What are some methods I use to avoid getting sucked into a fear of writing expectations?
- Writing for my audience, not yours
All writers have a unique audience. Yes, there is some overlap across the same genre, but we will all have our own reader base. - Tell the story I want to tell
The only expectations that matter are my own. If it’s the best story I can tell and is something I want to share, that’s all that really matters. - Constantly learning and growing
Since expectations of myself are all that really matter, I spend time learning and growing to perfect my skillset to be the best version of myself that is possible.
3. Not Gaining an Audience
Why write a book if no one is going to read it? That is a writing fear I see all the time on sites like Threads and Twitter. The thing is that there are so many readers in the world, it’s difficult not to get an audience unless you squirrel yourself away from the public.
Will you be as popular as another author in the same genre? Who knows? But I can assure you that there is always an overlap. Some people who read one author will surely read another.
Why don’t I have a fear of not gaining an audience?
- I haven’t done a lot of marketing for myself
Marketing is one of the most vital parts of being a successful author. And I know I haven’t done a lot to gain the trust of my audience. - I know who my ideal reader is
I understand how a target audience works online. That leads to knowing who I am writing the book for, other than myself. - Relishing in the single compliment
If only one person loves my book, aside from myself, that’s all that matters to me. I thrive on those single compliments, especially since I know I don’t market the books nor myself all that well in the first place.
4. Not Selling Copies of Books
An extremely pronounced fear of writing is not selling copies of books. A lot of people will equate a lack of sales with a lack of writing skill, which just isn’t true. While one might affect the other, they are completely different aspects of publishing.
Also, a lot of people will get into writing in the hopes of turning it into a full-time career. It’s believed that about 35% of authors make enough money to write full-time, but I can’t substantiate that claim. Unfortunately, from what I’ve seen online, it’s a believable number.
I don’t have a fear of not selling copies because:
- I know I don’t market well enough
Remember, people have to see the book in order to buy it. If you’re not properly marketing the book, it’s not going to make sales. - I am quite patient
I have no doubt that I’ll stumble across marketing methods that work well for me. In the meantime, I’ll do what I can when I can. - I didn’t start writing books to become rich
I write because I have a story to tell. Yes, it would be nice to replace a full-time income with my writing, but that’s not what drives me.
5. Not Being Good Enough to Publish
Ah, impostor syndrome. This is perhaps one of the most debilitating fears for anyone across every industry. The fear of not being good enough will hold anyone back, and it could take a long time to overcome.
In some ways, I still struggle with a touch of this myself. But it’s nowhere near as bad.
How many stories have you tossed in the trash? How often do you say to yourself, “No one is going to read this anyway?” The problem with this is that many of us are surrounded by evidence to the contrary of how we “feel” about our work.
What made the biggest impact to quell my fear of not being good enough?
- Changed how I accepted compliments
- I used to think people just said they liked something I wrote to be nice. Now, I thank them for the compliment and do not dwell on the “why” of it.
- Dumping the arrogance
It’s awfully arrogant to think you know what someone else will love. You’re not a mind reader. Put the story out there and let the audience judge whether it’s good or not, and what you can improve. - Constantly educating myself
- I am a proponent of education in any form. If I want to get better at something, it’ll take education and practice. And every educational accomplishment fuels my self-confidence.
6. Not Being Able to Handle Criticism
In the creative space, you need to develop a thick skin. Criticism will come in all shapes and sizes, and a fear of how others will perceive your writing will hinder your progress.
Of course, you don’t want to get subjected to trolls…no one does. However, it comes as part of the process of becoming an author in any regard.
How am I able to handle criticism so well as a writer?
- Knowing I can’t please everyone
One of my most common statements is that you can’t please 100% of the people 100% of the time. People are going to hate for the sake of hating. - Proper critiques can help me grow
Not all criticism comes in the form of an attack. Some will point out issues in the writing that you can then use to build yourself up to be a better author. - Learning the difference between trolling and critiquing
- It can take a bit of practice, but learning the difference between someone trolling and someone critiquing is extremely helpful for your mindset. For one thing, don’t put a lot of stock in criticism that doesn’t explain in detail why a person didn’t like the story.
7. Not Writing a Perfect Book
Too many new authors try to write the perfect first-draft manuscript. Or, they’ll spend years trying to tighten up the story to achieve some imaginary form of perfection.
I’m sorry, but perfection doesn’t exist. Writing a “good” book is subjective. What one person will love, another may hate. Instead, focusing on progression will help get the book out of your head.
Something else to keep in mind is that every book you write will be better than the last. So, trying to put together the “perfect” manuscript is only going to waste time while ramping up your level of stress.
Why don’t I care about writing a perfect book?
- I know I am continuously learning and growing
As I just pointed out, every book is only going to get better. This is especially true if you spend time learning more about your craft. - Knowing that successful authors don’t publish perfection
- There have been plenty of times when I stumbled across a word or punctuation that was improperly used in a world-renowned author’s book. In fact, I found a typo recently in Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, by Stephen King.
- Knowing perfection doesn’t exist
- This goes along with not being able to please everyone. Some are going to hate your story simply because you used a font they didn’t like.
8. Not Knowing Enough
The fear of not knowing enough about writing goes along with impostor syndrome. There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to producing a good book. And not knowing how all of them mesh together can cause a lot of anxiety.
Then, you have authors who don’t believe they are good enough because they lack a proper education or they lack experience. The truth is that, as I said before, writing a good book is subjective. Although there are some things you can learn to improve your skills, it’s not something you should fear.
So, why don’t I have a fear of not knowing enough as a writer?
- Constantly educating myself
- At the beginning of my writing career, I knew I was average at best. I decided to become better, and since 2012, spent a lot of time learning and growing. At the time of this post, I’m working on my bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing.
- Every book is a learning tool
I use every book I write and publish as a way to practice and learn more about the trade. In that regard, everything I’ve written thus far has been a stunning success, as I’ve learned a lot since publishing my first book in 2021. - Knowing I’m not the best
I know that I have plenty of room to grow as an author. It’s not derogatory toward me to understand that I need to develop more skills. And I’m confident that I’ll continue to advance as time goes on.
9. Not Writing Fast Enough
We live in a world where grinding out content rapidly is rewarded by algorithms. A lot of people are stressed about not writing books fast enough and fear they will be left behind. Coincidentally, this is a common argument by pro-AI-creation users.
The thing to keep in mind is that writing is not a race. Your story will be told at your pace, and you shouldn’t try to grind yourself into a sticky paste to meet some impossible-to-maintain flow.
Why I have no fear of not writing fast enough:
- I don’t want to rush a book
For the most part, it’s easy to determine when a book is rushed. My stories will be told on my timeline, not dictated by some bot or algorithm. - I’m focusing on my audience
My audience often knows how chaotic my life is, and most are understanding. I want to provide them with the best possible experience I can, even if that means taking an extra month to re-read a book because of a couple of sentence typos. - I want my audience to see my story as I do
I take my time crafting the story because I want others to “see” what I see when I write. Of course, everyone’s imagination is different, and they’ll see scenes and characters differently. But I want them to experience the story as I do while writing it.
10. Not Fleshing Out the Story Well Enough
Being too descriptive can make for a long, drawn-out, boring read. But not adding enough detail can easily lose the attention of the reader. You need to find a good balance of showing vs telling, and a lot of people fear that aspect while writing.
Not every detail needs to be explained in a book, and it’s good to let the reader’s imagination fill in some of the blanks. However, there are elements that will highlight the plot that need those details.
I don’t fear not fleshing out the story because:
- I often write light in the first draft
My first drafts are usually around the 75,000-word mark, and then I add up to 20,000 words during the editing phase. Meaning, I mostly add important details after I get the story out of my head. - I use beta readers before editing
Beta readers can do all kinds of great things for a story. This is when someone points out the weak points so you can make adjustments. Kingmaker is a great example of improving the story overall based on feedback. - Don’t skimp on the editing phase
Even though I often can’t afford a professional editor, I am diligent about reading, re-reading, and reading some more to help develop the best story I can. I don’t just whip something up and call it a soufflé.
11. Getting Writer’s Block
Writer’s block is one of the most prolific problems most authors face. I’ve seen writers get stuck for months and even years at a time in their writing. It can suck the wind out of your sails and make you question whether you want to be an author.
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for writer’s block. It comes down to figuring out techniques that work for you. It may take a bit of trial and error, but experimenting can help you overcome this debilitating problem.
How do I avoid writer’s block?
- I outline and re-outline my story
I use outlines of what I want to include in every story. Then, if characters do unexpected things, I’ll have to re-outline the chapters. Nonetheless, it keeps me productive and focused on the story I want to tell. - Listening to the book’s soundtrack
Every book I write has a “soundtrack” of sorts that I use to envision the story if it were a music video or movie trailer. Some of my favorite scenes came from using music as a guide. - I don’t write for perfection
Since I don’t write for the first draft to be perfect, I don’t get hung up on scenes and whatnots. The goal is to get the story out of my head and then make edits later.
Your Mindset About Writing May Fuel Fear
How you view yourself and your writing can either throw gas on the fire of fear or extinguish it altogether. If you’re constantly negative about your stories or skills, it’ll be far more difficult to succeed in finishing the first draft.
When you approach anything in life with a negative mindset, you’re already looking for ways to fail. As such, that is what you’ll expect whenever you start hammering out those first few lines of text. Eventually, you’ll toss the story and move on to the next.
This is how I became a successful freelance writer while moving into the blogging and self-publishing spheres: I kept an open mind.
I knew that I wasn’t going to be the best writer that ever graced Textbroker. But I decided that I would turn myself into one. I kept a positive attitude about my writing and spent a lot of time studying how to become the best I could be.
Fast forward 13 years, and I’ve built one hell of a career.
No, I’m not a best-selling author. But I also know that I haven’t put a lot of effort into marketing my books. I view my writing career objectively, meaning I don’t feed negativity through thoughts and emotions. So, I can’t say that I suck because I haven’t sold a book in months.
Doubting yourself and having a lack of self-confidence hinders your progress. If you want to be successful at anything, it starts with your mindset and how you view yourself during the process.
Hope and positivity are far more effective than despair and discouragement. I’d rather put effort into the former and see where my writing can take me.
What’s Your Most Prominent Writing Fear?
Conquering your fears is how you progress. This is true whether you’re focusing on writing or trying to promote yourself as an oil painter. We all have fears that can hold us back, and identifying what they are is but the first step.
For me, the most prominent fear was that no one would like the stories. But after being involved in the writing community, sharing some stories, and publishing a couple of books, I now know that fear was unfounded.
Identify the fears that hold you back and take steps to overcome them. There’s a wondrous life of a writer ahead of you; don’t let self-doubt take away what could be one of the best parts of your life.
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