Being a writer can be a thorny old bugbear at times. We can be riddled with doubt, feeling anxious and insecure. We can nag ourselves relentlessly:
This draft sucks, right?
Am I a terrible writer?
Will people like it?
Will they hate it?
Am I wasting my time?
Should I even publish?
Is it worth it?
Why am I even bothering?
Feeling unsure of ourselves is part of the emotional landscape we sometimes have to negotiate as creatives.
Why? Because in producing original work, we’re constantly extending ourselves, coming up with new things, breaking fresh ground.
We’re always at the forefront of our own creative development – even if we don’t realise it.
When we put our work out there, we open ourselves up to being known… and fear of what that means.
What is a creative?
Being creative means, at a basic level, putting something out into the world. I know that sounds obvious, but it’s a good idea to remind ourselves of that fact, because it’s incredibly important – and a wonderful thing.
Once we’ve made a work, the world will never be the same.
We have changed it, even in a small way.
We take the act of creation for granted, but its significance hits home when we throw off the covers and expose our writing to the gaze of others.
At this point, our anxiety can go into overdrive, as it contacts a vulnerable part of us that we’re keen to protect.
Our work and process come from a sensitive, precious place – our source, who we are. So when we do go public, it can feel like we’re exposing our selves to critique (and criticism).
All kinds of questions can rear their heads:
What will readers think?
No one is going to buy my book, are they?
Am I going to get bad reviews?
What will happen if I do?
What will that mean?
Will people troll me?
– and on… and on…
Take a moment to think about creatives you admire. They could be those you know, or perhaps famous people at the top of their profession.
The one quality you can guarantee they have in common is that they’re adventurers. They’ve all ploughed their own, highly individualistic furrow.
And it’s hard to believe that none of them have ever faced moments of self-doubt in their working lives, or had to deal with criticism. Of course they have.
What they’ve done, to quote that old line, is to feel the fear… and do it anyway.
How to deal with being known
The bottom line is that if we want our writing to be seen, we need to strap on a psychological carapace and be open to the idea – at least to some extent.
I’ve written before about the courage it takes to be a creative person.
Solo flights can be scary, but that isn’t necessarily such a bad thing. If you’re feeling some trepidation, remember: it takes bravery to put your work out there.
The very fact you’re doing this says a lot about the lionheart you are.
Spirited. Original. An artist.
The call to create is strong, and you’re being courageous enough not to shy away from it. Many do – and their work never sees the light of day.
Courage breeds confidence
Here’s something else to bear in mind. When we’re breaking new ground, we can feel horribly inexperienced. Which is true – but we’re also forgetting, at the same time, the experience we do have and what we can bring to the table.
In fact, despite any feelings of insecurity we might have, the act of showing our work increases confidence and self-belief.
It’s a concrete achievement. It gives us knowledge we didn’t have previously.
It also gives us valuable feedback: we’re in a much better position to know what works and what doesn’t. Finally, having stepped outside our comfort zone, we’re no longer confined by fear of that particular situation, and we’re able to expand our horizons even further.
There is a caveat to this. We must be prepared to stand by our work, 100 per cent – which has a very real bearing on quality, because we’ll be judged on it.
Being rigorous can help here. If we’ve taken the time to craft, analyse and critique our work, that goes a long way to allaying anxiety.
If criticism does come, we’re then in a better position to assess whether it really is justified, or simply a jealous put-down to be ignored.
How to get support
The good news is that writing mentors, book coaches and editors can ease this process. We’re trained in supporting you during your writing journey, and make sure what goes out of the door is good.
Working with a mentor, coach or editor is a much safer way for authors to deal with fear, feedback and critique, because these have containment within a highly skilled, professional environment. The collaboration is grounded in solid technical knowledge, empathy, focus and direction.
Authors feel much better by the end of the process, because they’re confident they’ve done everything they genuinely can, and have been guided to deliver their best.
Inexperienced writers who rush from first draft straight to proofreading and published are actually taking more of a risk, because they think their manuscript is fine when it might not be. Their book is exposed directly to public criticism, with potential for negative reviews.
That’s even more of a vulnerable position to be in, because by that stage the work is already out there… and there’s nowhere to hide.
Believe in you
If you really think about all of this, what is there to be afraid of?
Will people believe in you? Of course they will – why should they not, if you’re authentic and stand behind what you do?
Being real, making quality work, and contributing something valuable to others?
If that’s the price of success, surely it’s a worthwhile sum to pay.
If you’re ready to slay your fear dragons and publish,
I can help you get where you want to go.
To book a free discovery call, contact me!
Lisa Cordaro Publishing Services 