Writing Fears
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MARCH 5, 2014
This is my first post with IWSG. It’s a place where writers give each other support and encouragement. Posting day is the first Wednesday of each month at Alex J. Cavanaugh Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Go to this link to check the requirements to join. INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP
My insecurity is already showing, because I am not sure if I am doing this right. I hope so.
My writing fears. What do I fear most? Let me start with a list.
- I’m not good enough
- What if I succeed?
- What if I fail and everyone hates it?
- What if they tear me apart?
- What if I am just not smart enough?
- What if my writing is juvenile?
- What if I really have nothing worth saying, or a story to tell?
- What if all I have in me is just ideas, no story start to finish?
- How could I possible live up to the authors I love? Because I really want to write that well. Do I have those kinds of stories in me?
- What do I know? I am no expert on anything.
- What if they make fun of me?
- What if I am kidding myself?
- What if I am never able to publish? What if I do publish?
- What if I cannot make money writing? What if I do? Will I be able to continue producing?
- What if my work is substandard?
Well I could actually keep going, but I won’t. I think that is enough. Out of all of those, I think what if I am kidding myself is the biggest, because I think it embraces all those fears.
So what if I am kidding myself? My immediate response to myself is you have to try first in order to know. You don’t really have anything to judge yourself by, what if you can and do?
Am I really willing to give up my dream of writing? The immediate answer again is no. Why? I love to read, but writing gives me joy, and a feeling of accomplishment. It is fun. I really want to share it. I want to help others, and I think it is possible that I can through writing. I love the complexity of writing. I love the intellectual part of writing. I love learning about writing. I like the challenge of writing good story. I like meeting other writers on the path, and sharing it. Writing allows me to pretend without others criticizing or thinking I’m weird, as if I am a child again.
The three biggest things that have had the greatest impact on me as a writer are my roommate whom I first met though Star Wars role-play. She is an awesome writer, but not published. She has inspired and taught me a lot over the many years we have been friends. The book “A Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writer’s 3rd edition by Christopher Vogler, and Holly Lisle’s writing courses. These three things have changed my writing life over the course of time. One other place that has influenced me from my earliest years of writing is worth a mention as well, Writer’s Digest articles, books, and courses.
Am I still afraid? All the time. Will I continue to write? You betcha! Currently I am taking Holly Lisle’s course “How to Think Sideways: Career Survival School for Writer’s” I am working on two novel ideas. I am writing on my blog, and posting flash fiction, vignettes, and short stories on a weekly basis. My goal is to finish a novel rough draft, and to make it publishable. This is where I am starting, but not where I stop dreaming. My dream? To live the writer’s life, and make a living at it. Why? Because I love it.
It has been said many times, and in many ways, but it applies to all of life for the living. Courage is not, not being afraid. Courage is being afraid, and doing it anyway. Happy writing to all those that share my dream.
CREDITS for references in my post:
The book The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
THE WRITER’S JOURNEY
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Holly Lisle’s Writing Courses
HOW TO THINK SIDEWAYS
Writer’s Digest
WRITER’S DIGEST
Hey, Welcome to ISWG!!! And I think we ALL have (or have had) those fears. The best thing to keep in mind is writing is a game of perseverance. You GET BETTER by writing. Write and keep writing, because even if you AREN’T ‘good enough’ now (and you may be–I’ve never read your stuff) you will get better with every story you write, so at SOME point you will cross that ‘good enough’ line, and at some LATER point you will cross the ‘this is GREAT’ line. My first 5 books will never see the light of day, but MAN I learned a lot. Just keep swimming!
so glad you stopped by my blog! you remind me of me not too long ago! especially when i started querying and kept getting rejected. it’s a tough business, but we each have a place in it, as long as we keep trying, we will succeed!
happy friday and welcome to iwsg!
Thank you for commenting. I am trying. Working on getting everything just right. I still have a ways to go, but I am learning. This has been and will be an interesting journey, but our dreams are worth it. Its what keeps us going, and gives us hope. Happy Friday to you too. .
Look at all the great comments you have! Of course, we all have fears. You have a pretty standard list. What i love is that you said you’ll write anyway. We keep doing what we love. We can’t stop ourselves. Whatever success comes, it doesn’t matter. We know what we’re doing is feeding our soul.
Thanks for the great quote you left on my blog. Welcome to the IWSG!
Thank you for taking time to comment back. I write, because I can’t help myself. Now I am trying to structure my writing, so I can be successful in a more public way through publication. The journey has certainly be an eye-opener so far, and many miles to go, lol. No I won’t stop writing, or dreaming or pretending, because of that is where all the stories come from to borrow a quote from my favorite pirate. Looking forward to crossing paths in IWSG.
Nice to meet you through IWSG! I loved reading this post. All those fears are fears that I share, especially the “am I kidding myself?” It sounds like with your writing courses, your friend’s encouragement, and with all those helpful articles in Writer’s Digest, you are becoming the kind of author you love to read. The Author’s Journey is a great book – I read it for a writing class I took several years ago. I’m going to have to get it off my shelf this weekend – thanks for the reminder. 🙂
I’ll be back later to read more about your writing journey. 🙂
Nice to meet you too! Thanks for stopping by, and taking time to comment. I hope you enjoy what you find. My journey is just beginning, and I am still hoping for big improvements in myself.
It’s great to see you with the IWSG!
Your post expresses exactly the way I felt when I started writing my first novel draft. 🙂 I had so many doubts and questions! But in the end my love for the story and my burning need to tell it won out over all of that, and here I am still on that crazy writing path. You have so much passion, Juneta! It will take you far. 🙂
Thank you. You have been an inspiration. I appreciate the comment.
Dang, I’m so relieved to finally be here that I forgot what I was going to say. It was probably brilliant too. I think your fears make real sense, Juneta. I recognize them all.
Thank you. I appreciate you commenting.
The fear will always be about, but just act crazy and let the fear flow out
Thank you. Very sage advice. I love the rhyme. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks for stopping by today, Juneta! And never fear–there IS NO right and wrong and on the writing road there is a TON of support. Nobody is ready when they start, but the only way to GET ready is to keep going. It’s totally worth it! Seek out advice and people to emulate, keep working at it, and you will get there. This is a marathon, not a sprint. YOU CAN!!!
Thank you. I love your analogy. The turtle in the end did beat the hare.
I hate to say this, but those fears never truly go away, even after you’ve established yourself. So the trick is to do what you are doing: never let those fears stop you from doing what you love.
Welcome to the IWSG!
I appreciate the encouraging words. I’m trying to keep my courage up, and keep on writing. Thank you.
When I started writing for publication, my goal was to help and inspire others, too. That tells me you’ll keep at it no matter what.
I know I will write no matter what. I have been writing for years in one form or another just not for publication, but in 2012 I decided to make that my goal. I hope that translate into to success. Thank you for commenting.
Welcome to IWSG! I’ve been a member for almost a year, and it’s a wonderful group. Your list of fears and loves about writing reminds me of myself – every day I write. It gets easier, but new fears crop up and you deal with them.
Two years ago I did Holly’s How to Revise Your Novel. It was an awesome commitment, but worth every moment. Stick with Holly. She’ll teach you a tremendous amount and the rest you’ll teach yourself!
Thank you, and thanks for commenting. I love Holly’s courses. She changed my writing life, and the way I approach and look at writing. I actually joined her courses in 2012, but did not make it all the way through HTTS, so I have started over. This time I plan to keep at it.
i hope you can put aside your fears and have fun. 🙂
Thank you. So far so good, but everyday is a new day.
Never fear, there’s a fellow newbie here.
I appreciate the ‘what if I succeed’ fear. Never mind all the rejections, but what if I succeed. I think you’ll be all right, no matter what, but it’s a good point, because we fret about agents/editors/etc. but the folks that really matter are the readers. And it’s good to keep them in mind. Also the ‘I am no expert’ point, another good one.
If I may quote Bob Marley, please allow me: Don’t worry ’bout a thing, cause every little thing is gonna be all right …
Great blog post.
Silvia @
SilviaWrites
Thank you Silva. I guess as writer’s we are own worst enemies sometimes. Love the quote. Like you said its the readers that really matter, but I’m not there yet either lol. I just keep plodding along like it is, beside I know worrying doesn’t change a thang, except maybe your blood pressure. .Thanks for commenting.
Wow! Your list of fears is even longer than my list this month. Glad you joined the IWSG!
Thank you. Glad to be a member. Its a pretty cool concept. Thanks for commenting.
Forgot to say… I think I fear it as much as I love it.
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