Before You Write—Stretch Your Perspective, Adjust Your Attitude, and Reject Fear

Can You Relate?

I grab a cup of coffee and sit at my computer. I'm anxious to mold a profusion of thoughts that have been whirling in my brain. Dreams of a spectacular story followed by curation float above my head.

I place my fingers on the keyboard. I even manage to get the first brilliant paragraph written. Then it happens. Wave-after-wave of self-doubt, anxiety, and stress wash over me like an unrelenting tsunami that pushes me further and further away from my goal.

I grab for anything that will keep me from drowning in insecurity. Nothing is at hand except the cup of coffee, so I gulp down a few swallows and take a deep breath.

Writing Tip - Now comes the thump to my forehead

What is wrong with me? I forgot the most important part of my writing routine - my warm up.

If athletes need a warm up before physical exercise, isn't it reasonable that writers also need this crucial preparation? After all, writing is an exercise, one of the mind and imagination.

What is the purpose of a warm up routine

For an athlete, physical "warm-up exercises will get the blood moving to the muscle groups and fire up the nervous system."

How much more critical to me - the writer who's lifeblood seems to be moving backward. And remember that Tsunami I mentioned earlier, well it drowned whatever fire I might have had. I'm floating on a current going nowhere.

It's time to act! Reset. Reboot. Re-everything!

'The Little Engine That Could' warm up session.

As described in the first part of this article, I tend to give way to doubt somewhere around the second paragraph of every new story. I start perspiring and hope no one catches me imitating a 'professional writer'. After all, aren't real writers those who sign huge book deals and get paid zillions for each word? I'm sadly lacking in those credentials.

So where do I start? It's simple really. Remember those incredible four words you read as a child? I think I can - I think I can…

Stretching my perspective exercises

1. Challenge my Negative thoughts.
2. List my positive qualifications.
3. Remember those people who believe in me and enjoy my writing.
4. Be as kind to myself as I would be to another writer who feels the same way I do.

Adjusting my attitude exercises

1. Grab a donut to go with my coffee.
2. Remember why I love to write.
3. Remember who I'm writing for.
4. Remember how I define success - If I love doing it - then I'm a success.
5. Remember that everyone won't love my work, but SOME WILL.

Rejecting fear exercises

1. Remember why I have this quote pinned to the wall over my desk. "I don't care if a reader hates one of my stories, just as long as he finishes the book." -Roald Dahl, WD
2. Don't cower, take my stance.
3. I won't wait for someone to LET me write - I dare to write because I can.

Warm up is over. Now it's time to write like there's no tomorrow.

But wait! There is one more hurdle to leap

“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.”~~Rudyard Kipling

It won't do us any good to write brilliantly if we don't muster up the courage to hit the publish button. What are you feeling just before your finger presses that key? Do you break out in a sweat, wring your hands, circle your chair, pace the floor, drop to your knees, or just sit calmly and wait for the inevitable?

I usually jump up and go bake cookies, do some laundry, or rearrange some dust — anything to take my mind off the fact I’ve jumped head-first off the cliff — again.

Notice: If you’re one of the small minority who experiences no fear when writing or publishing, this part of my story is NOT for you.

The fearful majority

As for the rest of us writers, we’re all dealing with word-induced fear and anxiety. Let’s examine a few of the reasons why.

Exposure — We all think we have what it takes as writers or we wouldn’t be doing this in the first place. But when it comes to our thoughts being openly exposed, we tend to second guess everything.

Comments and feedback — Writers have fragile egos. It’s part of our creative genetics. The world we live in is not known for tactfulness, kindness, or acceptance of strangers. And what can be stranger than a writer who’s just published a new story?

The publish button — We can never be sure of what lies below the surface of the publishing waters. It could be the ecstasy of success that blesses a tiny few of us, or, the VOID. (The void is the nothingness that happens after you publish which leaves you wondering if your article was jettisoned into another dimension.)

“Be faithful to that which exists within yourself.” ~Andre Gide

The diver in the photo helped me to settle this issue in my own mind.

Once I’ve taken the publishing leap, the fear will only last as long as I’m in the air — after that, it’s all over…

Stay positive and take the leap!

______________________

Originally published here

______________________