If there is one thing that writers and creative minds in all corners of the planet have in common, it is this: fear and self-doubt. Okay, two things. We all have two things in common, regardless of our age, gender, nationality, experience, and level of success.
I’m going to face those fears head-on today.
Writers: this is for you. Because we all need a solid pep talk on occasion, no?
I’m going to face those fears head-on today.
Writers: this is for you. Because we all need a solid pep talk on occasion, no?
Your 7 greatest writing fears: SQUASHED!
Fear #1: I don’t have the talent. Are you comparing yourself to Stephen King and shrinking away from your own potential?
Here’s what the man himself has to say about that: “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” —Stephen King.
The 30th President of the United States would agree. “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”—Calvin Coolidge
Talent is part of the equation, but doesn’t represent the whole picture.
Fear #1: I don’t have the talent. Are you comparing yourself to Stephen King and shrinking away from your own potential?
Here’s what the man himself has to say about that: “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” —Stephen King.
The 30th President of the United States would agree. “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”—Calvin Coolidge
Talent is part of the equation, but doesn’t represent the whole picture.
Fear #2: My writing isn’t good enough. Says who? (“Who says, who says you're not perfect?
Who says you're not worth it?”—Selena Gomez in the song “Who Says”). Sorry, I’ve been listening to an ungodly amount of Kidz Bop radio as of late.
Seriously, though. Who says you or your writing are not good enough?
You? A whole bunch of literary agents? Your parents? Your so-called friends? Publishers? The Queen of England?
The better question is: who cares? Keep at it. Some say that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. The only way you get better at writing is by writing, so don’t give up.
Who says you're not worth it?”—Selena Gomez in the song “Who Says”). Sorry, I’ve been listening to an ungodly amount of Kidz Bop radio as of late.
Seriously, though. Who says you or your writing are not good enough?
You? A whole bunch of literary agents? Your parents? Your so-called friends? Publishers? The Queen of England?
The better question is: who cares? Keep at it. Some say that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. The only way you get better at writing is by writing, so don’t give up.
Fear #3: Nobody will want to read this. J.K. Rowling probably shared the same misbelief. She was a single mother and struggling to make ends meet while writing her first book. Her original Harry Potter manuscript was rejected by 12 publishers before it was picked up. Her first advance was only 1500 British pounds.
And, yet?
The Harry Potter books have sold more than 450 million copies worldwide, and J.K. Rowling was the first author to become a billionaire. As in BILLIONAIRE!
So, take it from J.K.: don’t sell yourself short. You have potential readers out there.
And, yet?
The Harry Potter books have sold more than 450 million copies worldwide, and J.K. Rowling was the first author to become a billionaire. As in BILLIONAIRE!
So, take it from J.K.: don’t sell yourself short. You have potential readers out there.
Fear #4: I’ll never be a bestseller. Paula Hawkins became an international bestseller with her debut novel, “The Girl on the Train”. The book, an overwhelming success, has sold over 18 million copies worldwide and has been adapted into a major motion picture.
I repeat: this was Hawkins’ very first published book.
Refine your craft, edit ad nauseum, heed the advice of people with larger-than-usual craniums, and you just may hit that bestseller list.
I repeat: this was Hawkins’ very first published book.
Refine your craft, edit ad nauseum, heed the advice of people with larger-than-usual craniums, and you just may hit that bestseller list.
Fear #5: I won’t know what to do with success. Of all the non-problems in this problem-filled world, this one takes the cake. You really needn’t fret about this one.
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”—Albert Schweitzer.
In essence: do what you love and love what you do, and good things will come to you. Continue down that path, don’t stagnate, and you’ll reap the joys of fulfilling your true purpose in life.
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”—Albert Schweitzer.
In essence: do what you love and love what you do, and good things will come to you. Continue down that path, don’t stagnate, and you’ll reap the joys of fulfilling your true purpose in life.
Fear #6: What if I only have one book in me? Nobody is lining up around the block to be the next ‘one-hit-wonder’. My half-hearted apologies to Los del Rio (“Macarena”), Right Said Fred (“I’m Too Sexy”), Baha Men (“Who Let the Dogs Out”), and Chumbawamba (“Tubthumping”—AKA, “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you are never gonna keep me down”). My sincere apologies for getting Chumbawamba stuck in your head.
It is true that literary agents and publishers want to work with authors with careers ahead of them, rather than a single hit book.
If you’ve written and published a book, chances are, you can do it again. Chances are even greater that you will continue to improve with each piece of writing that you create.
Have a little faith in yourself!
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”—Helen Keller.
It is true that literary agents and publishers want to work with authors with careers ahead of them, rather than a single hit book.
If you’ve written and published a book, chances are, you can do it again. Chances are even greater that you will continue to improve with each piece of writing that you create.
Have a little faith in yourself!
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”—Helen Keller.
Fear #7: Nobody wants to hear from me. Not a celebrity, politician, or a YouTube star? It’s daunting to think about breaking into the publishing industry, isn’t it?
I struggle with this myself. Sometimes, when I’m feeling persnickety, I marvel at the unfairness of the fact that even C list celebrities in the public eye are automatically considered for book deals based solely on who they are. Many have memoirs and tell-alls that are ghost-written or, at the very least, heavily edited.
I’ve (begrudgingly) come to accept this reality.
But the existence of celebrity non-writers with published books does NOT negate the need and demand for real writing from real, non-famous people.
Assume that there are people out there who want to read what you have to say.
I struggle with this myself. Sometimes, when I’m feeling persnickety, I marvel at the unfairness of the fact that even C list celebrities in the public eye are automatically considered for book deals based solely on who they are. Many have memoirs and tell-alls that are ghost-written or, at the very least, heavily edited.
I’ve (begrudgingly) come to accept this reality.
But the existence of celebrity non-writers with published books does NOT negate the need and demand for real writing from real, non-famous people.
Assume that there are people out there who want to read what you have to say.
Take Amanda Hocking, for example. A few years ago, she was an unknown, unpublished writer of paranormal fiction. Back in 2010, Amanda desperately wanted to see an exhibit about Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, but she couldn’t afford to make the trip.
What did Amanda do? She decided to self-publish one of the many novels that had seen rejection after rejection from traditional publishers over the years.
Her plan panned out. In short: Amanda more than funded her $300 super fan trip to the Jim Henson exhibit.
Amanda has made millions of dollars by self-publishing her work. Her persistence has paid off, big time.
“Sometimes I'd say: 'I'm done, I'm never going to write another book,' but then a couple of months later I'd have another idea and I'd start again. This time it was bound to work."—Amanda Hocking.
What did Amanda do? She decided to self-publish one of the many novels that had seen rejection after rejection from traditional publishers over the years.
Her plan panned out. In short: Amanda more than funded her $300 super fan trip to the Jim Henson exhibit.
Amanda has made millions of dollars by self-publishing her work. Her persistence has paid off, big time.
“Sometimes I'd say: 'I'm done, I'm never going to write another book,' but then a couple of months later I'd have another idea and I'd start again. This time it was bound to work."—Amanda Hocking.
Final thoughts
Some days, your writing may feel like this:
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
― Ernest Hemingway
Other days, it may feel more like this:
“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.”
― Saul Bellow
But always remember this:
“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”
― Philip Pullman
Writers, keep on writing!
Some days, your writing may feel like this:
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
― Ernest Hemingway
Other days, it may feel more like this:
“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.”
― Saul Bellow
But always remember this:
“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”
― Philip Pullman
Writers, keep on writing!
You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
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A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Your writing conference checklist: how to make it worth every minute and every penny (takeaways from the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference)
The write stuff: An author’s favorite books and authors
Writing tips: Cutting down on word fat and other newsletter best practices
All about writing: writing 'til it hurts
Writing tips for email: In 30 seconds, this message will self-destruct
Public speaking tips: How to move your audience from callous to captivated
Video production tips for content managers: Lights, Camera, Action! Celebrating the Spotlight
How to be the perfect employee: 46 tips that may or may not get you fired
How to be the perfect wife: an amateur tells all
100 believable excuses to help you avoid doing practically anything
