From Edie: DiAnn Mills shares how to find courage as a writer by overcoming fear, rejection, self-doubt, and perfectionism while trusting God to move your writing forward.
How to Find Courage as a Writer: Overcoming Fear and Moving Forward
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
When we consider careers that require courage, we think of first responders, soldiers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and others. We forget writers need courage to step out alone in a highly critical and competitive world.
“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Dorothy Bernard
Every word on the page is a risk with the potential of rejection and failure. Do we have the courage to face the obstacles threatening our way? Sometimes the biggest roadblock is us.
The Courage to Begin
The desire to write is a calling from God embedded in our hearts. It’s passionate, private, and has a purpose. Too often writers are afraid to voice their longing to put thoughts into words, and their dreams lie dormant.
The fears assaulting us come in different forms:
- Fear of failure
- Fear of success
- Fear of devastating criticism
- Fear of a blank page
“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” Stephen King
Every successful writer begins with a blank page, a desire, and a dose of doubt.
The Courage to Tell the Truth
Fiction and nonfiction projects require truth. Showing humanity means physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and professional truth. In this way, readers comprehend authentic raw emotions, struggles, real fears, and hope.
The Courage to Learn the Craft
Writers thrive on creativity and vivid imagination but struggle with learning the craft. The reasoning goes back to the fear of beginning and the commitment.
New or seasoned writers enhance their skill by:
- Joining a writing/critique group
- Asking for help
- Willingness to help a new writer
- Reading a blog or article daily about the craft, marketing, publishing, or social media
- Receiving feedback graciously
- Attending workshops and conferences via online or in person
- Accepting growth in every area of their lives requires a teachable spirit
The Courage to Be Critiqued
This is a hard one because many writers confuse criticism of their writing project with criticism of themselves. Criticism takes the form of rejection letters, contest scores, editorial suggestions, and reviews. None of those things define us; they are evaluating the manuscript.
The Courage to Finish
Writers who begin a project but never finish need courage to fight their way to the end. The problems stem from fear, lack of self-confidence, perfectionism, harsh ridicule, and the physical and mental strain of the writing life.
The Courage to Submit
A writer’s best work cannot impact a reader if it’s not submitted. The courage to submit covers the query, proposal, traditional or independent publishing, building a platform, and marketing.
The Courage to Persevere
The writing life isn’t paved with glory. All writers face discouragement, less than stellar sales, bad reviews, disappointments with agents, and the big R word again—rejection. Perseverance takes courage, but you can do it. The writers who succeed are the ones who refused to quit.
The Courage to Be Different
The publishing world rewards originality, working in solitude, free-flowing creativity, and an open heart and mind. Writers don’t and shouldn’t want to sound like their favorite author but to develop their own unique voice.
The Courage to Serve Readers
Writing isn’t about us but the reader. Write fiction or nonfiction that answers a problem or a solution for the reader in ways that entertain, inspire, and encourage.
- How can I help you in your life?
- How can I inspire you?
- How can I entertain you?
- How can I offer you insight?
- How can I encourage you?
The Courage to Answer the Call
Every writer wrestles with the reasons why their calling is for someone else. Doubts will arise, but that isn’t a writer’s job; the purpose is obedience and to enhance the lives of others. If only one reader finds healing and peace in their lives, then we’ve done our job.
Writers daily ask God for courage to walk bravely forward in the craft of writing. Even if it’s only the next sentence.
Every day a writer sits down to create, courage is present.
And perhaps the greatest act of writerly courage is accepting this: the God who called us to the writing ministry will not abandon us.
What do you need courage in your writing life today?
TWEETABLE
Her novels have appeared on the CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists and have earned numerous honors, including the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol Awards.
DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and serves as Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. She is also active in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, Outliers Writing University, and The Christian Pen. Passionate about helping others succeed, she invests in writers through mentoring, book coaching, editing, and dynamic workshops she teaches across the country.
A self-proclaimed coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She makes her home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.
Connect with DiAnn for behind-the-scenes glimpses, writing tips, and lively conversations at diannmills.com, or on Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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