Dear Frightened Writer—6 Things to Remember When Fear Overwhelms

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

It’s January 2020, and we have decided this is the year to write, to begin the project that has stalked us for weeks, months, and maybe years. We’ve dreamed about putting thoughts into words for so long, and now it’s become our go-to past-time. Our hearts ache with the passion to create words that move into sentences, paragraphs, pages, chapters, and even a book. The thought nips at our waking and sleeping hours until we must at least try.

But we’re afraid. Beginning means setting out on a journey of the unknown. We writers must rip the scars from their hearts to bleed life experiences onto paper. What if we fail? What if the longing is just a disguise for refusing to believe our goals are impossible … an achievement for others but not us?

How do we ever know if an endeavor is worth the price unless we choose to chase the outrageous and risk defeat? Our nights have been sleepless thinking about the desire to write and content, so why not crawl out of bed and string together the words consuming us?

The publishing world can be a scary place. Sometimes we writers feel like a tiny fish in a huge pond. We forget every big fish started small. We all have to grow our skills, our brands, and our self-confidence to succeed in reaching dreams and goals.

What if we take a leap of faith into the vast world of dreams? What might happen? How can we frightened writers take the first step, master it, and move on to the next?

Below are 6 ways to brace ourselves for the journey ahead.

• 1. Embrace the decision to be a writer. The gift is a calling. Don’t take the magnificence lightly.

• 2. Choose to learn the craft. Allot time every day to study the how-to books. Research online learning and choose what blogs, podcasts, and webinars fill our needs. Invest in a highly respected writers conferences. 

• 3. Place readers above ourselves. We write to address their needs. Discover those who crave what we have to offer.

• 4. Prepare to engage social media with a plan to work smart. Incorporate a minimum amount of time to produce the maximum impact.

• 5. Vow to never stop reading and studying every aspect of the publishing industry.

• 6. Share what we learn with a serious writer. Pay the craft forward.

Dear writer, being frightened is useful only if it helps us survive a potential tragedy. When we worry and express our fear about the future, we diminish the power of God. Trust God for the outcome of your writing and do your best work with Him.

What writing fears chase you?

TWEETABLE

Dear Frightened Writer—6 Things to Remember When Fear Overwhelms - @DiAnnMills on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. 

She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson. Connect here: DiAnnMills.com