The fear of writing is a very common occurrence in every blogger’s experience. It’s a proven fact that this psychological block can be encountered in both accomplished and beginner writers. This natural emotion is nothing to be ashamed of, it requires self-examination & willingness to evolve.

Why does this feeling occur & How to defeat it?

The journey of writing is like “getting into a very small boat and setting out on the ocean to search for unknown lands” – Pema Chodron in When Things Fall Apart. Fear Strikes when we realize that we don’t know what will happen next, and our first reaction to it is running away. I personally get this sensation every time I find it hard to express myself or forget the main reason I started writing in the first place. It sometimes makes me put the writing aside for a very long time (the next time I try finishing it – it’s a lot harder).

To have a more personalized & clear understanding the problem, we’ll divide it into the most common categories and analyse each properly:

Fear of mediocrity– putting it simple, this state is about not feeling special, or feeling like you’ve got nothing worth sharing. “All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity is easy. Stay away from easy” (Scott Alexander). But hey… you’ve already jumped out of the crowd by deciding to write. “A talent somewhat above mediocrity, shrewd and not too sensitive, is more likely to rise in the world than genius.” Charles Horton Cooley

Fear of failure – probably one of the most common obstacle which comes in different shapes…

The fact that you’ll make a great effort and sacrifice you’r time but somehow not accomplish your mission is a hard pill to swallow, but there’s a human say proven by decades “The only real failure in life is the failure to try.”

To many people recognition is the greatest motivator, and it’s absence is equivalent to fail. The thing to consider is that not reaching the bar this time doesn’t make it less of a success.

Criticism - one of the most obvious concerns – the fear of getting rejected. Some turn back at this point, and never come back. The only wise thing to do is accept the fact that we can’t please everyone, then use it to become better and stronger. (learn from the feedback) “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby

Fear of “Making a big deal out of myself by writing from the heart . . . ‘as if anyone wants to hear that’.”– neglect those who claim you’re of no interest for writing about the stuff you care, as one of the biggest secrets for satisfying the readers is speaking from the hear (Ask anyone). Maybe you haven’t found the right audience yet.

Fear of lack of experience– no one is born a genius. When I find it difficult to write, I just take a pause for the cause and start surfing for even more data (who knows… maybe I’ll find some more inspiration)

Fear of not knowing where to begin– never neglect the idea of taking a time out. Meditate, think, improve your knowledge & wait for “it” to come. My writing ritual at this point is about taking a scratch-paper and drawing down a sketch of how my article should look like. (sounds obscure but it makes my job easier)

How Do We Fight It?

feel free

Learn to feel comfortable.Find your happy place and keep track of what factors provide that coziness for your work. Whether it’s a coffee shop or your desk, try taking the surroundings to your advantage. (For instance: I like turning on some music & making myself a hot beverage)

Don’t be hasty. No memorable successes were made over night. Take your time,Brainstorm, Research, Outline, and Visualize. Before even starting, I imagine the full project, think of smarter ways to present it, write down topics I want to cover and even draw a scheme of what the final version should look like.

Cheer up!Think of the accomplishments you’ve made in the past. You believed you could do the job when you applied for it, so maintain confidence in your own ability. State yourself the things that only you can offer, why your article is different and how no one besides you can do it.

Be Disciplined! Dedicate a regular amount of time to writing (preferably on a daily basis). That doesn’t mean you should milk out the words, just devote the time to chewing over the topic itself. When creativity suddenly hits you, don’t wait, write everything down to a paper (even if it’s the simplest idea or the most inconsiderable detail).

Love Your Work! Sure, everyone knows that the magic happens only when you feel for the theme you’re covering, so take that extra time when choosing the subject. I like psychology as a science and method to self-growth, and this article is a reflection of it.
Yes, writing is scary, but working on this article gave me a chance to make an in-depth research on the subject and enlarge my knowledge on a problem that I’ve also encountered. Feel free to share your experience and your ways to overcome difficulties to the matter.

“You are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your circumstances you need to change your thinking and subsequent actions.” Adlin Sinclair