How I slay that demon isn't always the same. Sometimes I'll just go for a walk and avoid the novel altogether. Other times, I'll eat chocolate. But I think perhaps the most successful strategy for defeating this demon is this: just write. Sit down and clear your head. Tell yourself that you're writing because you love to write, that you don't have to get it right the first time, that you can change and edit and play with the words to your heart's content later, after you've got those words written.
Then get to work. Have fun. Enjoy. Bask in the feeling of being a writer. Of creating.
And let fear slink back into its dark corner and sulk.
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I think I'm less afraid to fail than I am to succeed. ;P But I do love the sign!
ReplyDeleteOh man. I just had this issue. I recently finished my WIP and by finished I mean its gone through seven CPs/betas. Its as shiny as its gonna get until an agent/editor tells me to change it up (if that ever happens haha)
ReplyDeleteSo now I'm starting a new WIP and I got to chapter three and I was scared. I was like, this sucks. How so bad at this?
Then I remembered that this is draft one, my previous manuscript started out like this too.
Just write.
And I did. :) Perfect timing on this post! :)
I used to be afraid of failure, but now I'm not. I think it did hold me back for a while.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love your blog background! Makes me tempted to change mine.
ReplyDeleteI really needed this reminder today. I have been eating too much chocolate and not enough writing!
I think you are right. I know I am doing that,letting my fear that my writing just won't be good enough get in the way of writing. Now anyways.
ReplyDeleteIt's a constant thing, battling fear. I still do way too much procrastinating. Trying to get better about just jumping in, and having faith that it *will* all work out on the page (because really, it always does.)
ReplyDelete